The choice
Two plans. The same full test.
Reform Welsh rugby. Compare the full cost of four regions and three. · FY2029
Yearly estimates unless stated otherwise. £m means millions of pounds. Support includes cash and shared services.
WRU’s plan · our cost estimates
3professional teams
From 2028/29, following a four-team transition.
- WRU support needed per region
- £7.15m
- Predicted share of league games won · URC
- Not enough evidence yetEvidence ↗
- Predicted share of league games won · PRL
- Not enough evidence yetEvidence ↗
- Yearly support WRU could afford per region
- £9.90m
- Extra yearly funding needed
- £0.00m
- WRU cash gained or used this year
- £5.71m
- Extra cash needed in the first 3 years
- £16.59m
- Include savings and where they would be spent.
- Include the cost of closing a team and any lost income.
- Include bills and services that would still remain.
YSA’s four-region plan
4competitive regions
Put the money and staff where rugby needs them.
- WRU support needed per region
- £7.15m
- Predicted share of league games won · URC
- Not enough evidence yetEvidence ↗
- Predicted share of league games won · PRL
- Not enough evidence yetEvidence ↗
- Yearly support WRU could afford per region
- £8.37m
- Extra yearly funding needed
- £0.00m
- WRU cash gained or used this year
- £3.68m
- Extra cash needed in the first 3 years
- £15.81m
- Cost teams and shared services from the ground up.
- Test better commercial deals and changes at WRU.
- Support local clubs and keep enough cash to pay the bills.
These are our estimates for both plans, not a budget supplied by WRU. Competition payments and help with debt and facilities are counted separately. Even if the yearly budget balances, extra cash may be needed to pay bills on time.
What do these figures mean?
- WRU support needed per region
- Yearly cash and shared services needed by each region. This is not all paid as a cash grant.
- Yearly support WRU could afford per region
- The model’s yearly limit after normal bills and debt payments. It does not cover one-off costs or cash shortages during the year, and depends on the assumptions being met.
- Extra yearly funding needed
- The gap between the support needed and what WRU could afford, across all regions in that plan. Zero here does not mean there are no cash shortages.
- WRU cash gained or used this year
- Money coming in minus money going out, including one-off costs and debt payments. Positive means cash gained; negative means cash used. This is a change, not the bank balance.
- Extra cash needed in the first 3 years
- The largest cash shortfall in the first 36 months, including the safety buffer kept for bills. It is not the sum of three yearly gaps, and no lender has committed this money.
When would things change?
The WRU roadmap sets three licences from 2028/29. Its benefits must be counted alongside its costs. Central reforms available under either structure must be tested in both.
YSA’s case is conditional on the shown costs, income and delivery. A positive operating result does not certify liquidity, lender compliance or solvency.
Select year and model
The money tree
Follow what changes.
Open a branch for costs, reforms and the evidence behind them.
WRU’s money: what comes in, what must be paid, and what can go to the regions.
Money coming in£123.94£124.44£0.50
- Tickets, broadcast and rugby income
- Sponsorship, stadium naming and kit
- Hospitality, hotel and events
Show net additional cash, contract dates and delivery costs. Existing income cannot be counted again as a new opportunity.
Income before extra commercial earnings£121.87£122.37£0.50
Evidence & calculation
Selected engine income less the separately displayed net new commercial contribution. Includes external competition receipts once.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Selected engine income less the separately displayed net new commercial contribution. Includes external competition receipts once.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Selected engine income less the separately displayed net new commercial contribution. Includes external competition receipts once.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Extra commercial earnings after costs£2.07£2.07£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Included in income above; not an additional line to add again.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Included in income above; not an additional line to add again.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Included in income above; not an additional line to add again.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Evidence & calculation
Engine revenue includes net incremental commercial contribution, after delivery costs. Whole-system income adds regional own income once; competition is already in central receipts.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Engine revenue includes net incremental commercial contribution, after delivery costs. Whole-system income adds regional own income once; competition is already in central receipts.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Engine revenue includes net incremental commercial contribution, after delivery costs. Whole-system income adds regional own income once; competition is already in central receipts.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Running WRU, the stadium and its businesses£39.56£39.56£0.00
- Required roles, salary bands and contractors
- Regional redeployment and duplication removed
- Procurement, IT, medical and administration
Moving a role is not a cash saving by itself. Show the duplicated payroll or supplier cost that ends, and the cost of changing.
Administration£6.60£6.60£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Direct event costs£7.43£7.43£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Stadium operations£8.90£8.90£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Hospitality£6.82£6.82£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Hotel£8.96£8.96£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Shared services£0.84£0.84£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Other changes not counted elsewhere£0.00£0.00£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated operatingBreakdown component. Included in the central platform subtotal, not added again. Service design and actual-to-target boundary remain assumptions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Evidence & calculation
Engine operating cost less performance and community delivery, which are displayed separately. Includes direct event cost, venues, hotel, administration, shared services and non-overlapping adjustments.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Engine operating cost less performance and community delivery, which are displayed separately. Includes direct event cost, venues, hotel, administration, shared services and non-overlapping adjustments.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Engine operating cost less performance and community delivery, which are displayed separately. Includes direct event cost, venues, hotel, administration, shared services and non-overlapping adjustments.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Wales teams and player development£16.58£16.58£0.00
National team operations, Wales duty and centrally supplied player resources. Allocate each cost once; distinguish player employment from compensation to regions.
Evidence & calculation
Server-calculated performance service category, removed from the central platform subtotal. Includes national performance and embedded pathways, not all senior-player wages across regions.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated performance service category, removed from the central platform subtotal. Includes national performance and embedded pathways, not all senior-player wages across regions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Server-calculated performance service category, removed from the central platform subtotal. Includes national performance and embedded pathways, not all senior-player wages across regions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Support for the regions£33.58£37.43£3.85
- Playing squads, coaches and academies
- Venues, travel, medical and regional operations
- Competition income and structural transition
Equal recurring WRU economic support means cash plus attributable central contracts and services. Each region’s own income and total playing budget remain separate.
Equal yearly cash grants£20.81£27.75£6.94
Evidence & calculation
Existing four licences through FY2028; three from FY2029 in the contraction reconstruction. Same selected service design in both structures.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Existing four licences through FY2028; three from FY2029 in the contraction reconstruction. Same selected service design in both structures.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Existing four licences through FY2028; three from FY2029 in the contraction reconstruction. Same selected service design in both structures.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Competition cash passed to active regions£6.00£8.00£2.00
Evidence & calculation
External competition income is in receipts; this branch is the internal cash distribution to active regions.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
External competition income is in receipts; this branch is the internal cash distribution to active regions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
External competition income is in receipts; this branch is the internal cash distribution to active regions.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Extra help with regional debt and facilities£1.26£1.68£0.42
Evidence & calculation
Cash funding for the active regions’ maintenance capital and legacy debt obligations; outside the equal recurring economic base.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Cash funding for the active regions’ maintenance capital and legacy debt obligations; outside the equal recurring economic base.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Cash funding for the active regions’ maintenance capital and legacy debt obligations; outside the equal recurring economic base.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
WRU’s share of the remaining shortfall£4.00£0.00£-4.00
Evidence & calculation
WRU share of retained service costs after retained own income and competition receipts.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
WRU share of retained service costs after retained own income and competition receipts.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
WRU share of retained service costs after retained own income and competition receipts.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Competition cash passed to retained services£1.50£0.00£-1.50
Evidence & calculation
Positive external competition receipts retained after contraction and redistributed to the service pool.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Positive external competition receipts retained after contraction and redistributed to the service pool.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Positive external competition receipts retained after contraction and redistributed to the service pool.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Evidence & calculation
Equal cash grants + competition pass-through + separate regional obligations funding + central underwriting + retained competition transfer. Attributable central services stay in central cost.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Equal cash grants + competition pass-through + separate regional obligations funding + central underwriting + retained competition transfer. Attributable central services stay in central cost. Memorandum only (not extra costs): retained unabsorbed senior-player pool £3.852m, included in retained service costs; external competition receipts £7.500m, already inside income. Retained players are not another team.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Equal cash grants + competition pass-through + separate regional obligations funding + central underwriting + retained competition transfer. Attributable central services stay in central cost. Memorandum only (not extra costs): retained unabsorbed senior-player pool £0.000m, included in retained service costs; external competition receipts £8.000m, already inside income. Retained players are not another team.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Community rugby, clubs, SRC and player development£12.72£12.72£0.00
Cost member-club needs, SRC, pathways and women and girls’ provision. Test targeted uplifts against affordability; do not lock in an arbitrary percentage.
Evidence & calculation
Direct community and SRC allocations plus priced targeted service uplifts and women/pathway increment, plus community operating delivery removed from central platform. Each category counted once.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Direct community and SRC allocations plus priced targeted service uplifts and women/pathway increment, plus community operating delivery removed from central platform. Each category counted once.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Direct community and SRC allocations plus priced targeted service uplifts and women/pathway increment, plus community operating delivery removed from central platform. Each category counted once.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Debt payments, repairs, tax and one-off changes£15.79£14.47£-1.32
Debt and lease payments, asset renewal, working capital and minimum cash. Show recurring obligations and transition exposure under both plans.
WRU interest payments£3.80£3.80£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Cash interest from the engine; regional external interest is not fully established.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Cash interest from the engine; regional external interest is not fully established.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Cash interest from the engine; regional external interest is not fully established.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Repaying loans, leases and debentures (before interest)£3.40£3.40£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Scheduled principal plus unrefinanced maturity paid; conditional refinanced amounts are not cash costs again.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Scheduled principal plus unrefinanced maturity paid; conditional refinanced amounts are not cash costs again.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Scheduled principal plus unrefinanced maturity paid; conditional refinanced amounts are not cash costs again.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
WRU building and equipment repairs and replacement£4.52£4.52£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Central maintenance and renewal cash provision; asset adequacy remains a test.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Central maintenance and renewal cash provision; asset adequacy remains a test.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Central maintenance and renewal cash provision; asset adequacy remains a test.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Cash tied up in unpaid income and day-to-day costs£0.53£0.53£0.00
Evidence & calculation
Cash absorbed into working capital.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Cash absorbed into working capital.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Cash absorbed into working capital.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Money set aside for WRU tax£2.91£2.23£-0.68
Evidence & calculation
Planning cash tax; not an entity tax return or whole-region tax forecast.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Planning cash tax; not an entity tax return or whole-region tax forecast.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Planning cash tax; not an entity tax return or whole-region tax forecast.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
WRU’s one-off costs of making changes£0.65£0.00£-0.65
Evidence & calculation
Includes central reform implementation and WRU share of contraction transition; not recurring payroll savings.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Includes central reform implementation and WRU share of contraction transition; not recurring payroll savings.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
Includes central reform implementation and WRU share of contraction transition; not recurring payroll savings.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
Evidence & calculation
WRU interest payments + bank/lease/debenture principal + unrefinanced maturity + maintenance capex + working capital + central exceptionals + tax. Reserve and all-payer transition context are memoranda in the evidence, not additional expenditure.
- Period
- FY2029
- Scope
- WRU money available to share
WRU
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
WRU interest payments + bank/lease/debenture principal + unrefinanced maturity + maintenance capex + working capital + central exceptionals + tax. Reserve and all-payer transition context are memoranda in the evidence, not additional expenditure. Memorandum only (not extra costs): required central cash reserve £4.202m; all-payer contraction transition £0.646m. The reserve is a liquidity floor, not expenditure. Regional interest, tax and reserves remain incomplete in the whole-system view.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
YSA
Evidence status: calculated conditional estimate
WRU interest payments + bank/lease/debenture principal + unrefinanced maturity + maintenance capex + working capital + central exceptionals + tax. Reserve and all-payer transition context are memoranda in the evidence, not additional expenditure. Memorandum only (not extra costs): required central cash reserve £4.202m; all-payer contraction transition £0.000m. The reserve is a liquidity floor, not expenditure. Regional interest, tax and reserves remain incomplete in the whole-system view.
What to keep in mind: Unapproved assumptions; entity-level FY2026 opening cash and executed lender terms remain unverified.
“Change” means YSA minus our estimate of the WRU plan. A positive number means more income or more spending, depending on the row—not always a saving. Each total already includes the items beneath it. £— means we do not have a figure, not zero.
How four could work
Could WRU run the game better?
Could sponsorship, naming rights and kit deliver more?
Test current deal value against comparable rights and realistic new terms. Include minimum guarantees, royalties, delivery costs, contract expiry and better kit prices for member clubs.
Evidence path: current agreement → comparable deal → proposed terms → additional annual cash. Undervaluation is a question to test, not an assumed windfall.
Could central staff and shared services strengthen the regions?
Put capacity where rugby needs it. Test shared finance, HR, procurement, IT and medical purchasing, with roles and salary bands designed around the required service.
Evidence path: actual organisation → required roles → redeployment or duplication removed → net cash and service effect.
Do Portas and Oakwell withstand the full comparison?
Challenge the original options’ competitive ambitions, income assumptions, reform opportunities and transition costs. Test how the conclusion changes when those assumptions change.
Check original report pages before claiming an omission. Separate WRU’s published case, our reconstruction and our alternative. Apply available central reform to both structures.
Parliamentary evidence on Oakwell, 2023 (not the original report) ↗
More than a funding line
What Welsh rugby keeps.
Regions & pathways
Competitive squads, player retention and routes from local rugby to the national team.
Member clubs
Facilities, coaches, referees, volunteers and access to a stronger rugby system.
Welsh communities
Home fixtures, local suppliers, employment, community programmes and identity.
Impact evidence
Use the Scarlets study and Swansea’s Ospreys assessment to test retained, displaced and lost activity in each scenario. Do not assume every activity disappears with a professional licence.
Scarlets economic-impact study ↗ · Swansea Council assessment reference ↗
Economic contribution and jobs are reported separately from money available to WRU. Geographical impact totals are not automatically additive.
The five-year plan, in detail.
2027–2031 · income, bills, regional budgets and what happens if things go wrong