Tierney outlines latest plan for Welsh rugby

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There is never a dull day in Welsh rugby.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has confirmed its deal with Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media to buy Cardiff has fallen through and that plans to cut to three men's professional teams will not happen until 2028.

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The WRU had been looking to offload Cardiff since rescuing them from administration in April 2025.

Ospreys and Scarlets have been offered the opportunity to sign Welsh rugby's latest Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25), which will last until at least the end of the 2027-28 season.

The WRU insists a cut to three teams by the end of the 2027-28 season is still the way forward and a plan to get there will be announced by June.

On Wednesday, WRU chief executive Abi Tierney was quizzed by the media on a range of issues from why the Y11 deal did not happen, why Ospreys and Scarlets have been offered the PRA25 now, why the governing body is still committed to three teams and whether she felt her position was untenable.

Here is what she said.

Why the WRU and Y11 Cardiff deal will not go ahead

Cardiff went into administration in April 2025 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]

Question: Why has the Y11 deal to buy Cardiff collapsed?

Abi Tierney: "Collapsed is not the right word.

"We had said all along it was a robust and rigorous assessment process and we did that and it came to a joint decision at the end [that] now isn't the right time to sell Cardiff."

What were the sticking points?

"There weren't sticking points and Y11 were constructive and collaborative throughout but we couldn't reach an end agreement whereby it made sense for either of us to take it forward."

It was a process that took 90 days and caused a lot of headlines and which a lot of people were not happy with. Was that three months now worth it, for the sort of concern for supporters, players and coaches [it caused]?

"It was absolutely. We committed when we took Cardiff into administration and rescued them, we would look to test the market and committed to the clubs we would do that.

"So it was important we did it and it's a major commercial asset so you had to take the time to do that in a robust and rigorous way. So that wasn't anything I would have ever wanted to rush."

Why was it not the right time to buy Cardiff?

"Rugby, globally, is in a difficult place at the moment. I use the analogy when you're looking to sell something, whether it's your house or a rugby club, you have a choice at which point in the market you choose to sell.

"We committed to testing the market. We didn't get a huge number of bids as a result.

"We only had two credible bids and then you have to look at the benefits of selling it now and bringing some stability into the system, and looking to how we can improve, how we deliver the game and a team that is maybe performing better in a couple of years' time and might be a better sell then. So it's all of those considerations."

How long will you own Cardiff for?

"Until it makes commercial sense to do something different. We have it in our financial plans to own it."

There was another consortium interested, so do they come back into equation to buy Cardiff?

"No, they don't. We're not selling and are taking Cardiff off the market."

Ospreys concerns and PRA change

Ospreys fans demonstrated after the news that Y11 was in talks to buy Cardiff [Huw Evans Picture Agency]

What would you say to Ospreys fans now who are concerned about Y11. Are they committed in the long-term after expressing an interest in buying another Welsh club?

"The conversations I've had with Y11 from the start of this process is they have been committed to Ospreys and continue to be so. I would reassure the fans of that.

"They want to get the PRA25 signed as soon as possible and I am hopeful the Scarlets will also.

"That's the Ospreys' focus and they're already turning their minds to what that means in terms of investment they can put in and will take them through until 2028. I know they're excited about where Ospreys can go."

Why have you given the Ospreys and Scarlets the option of signing the PRA just under a year after you took it off the table?

"We didn't take it off the table, they chose not to sign it at the time and therefore missed the deadline.

"It is important we get stability into Welsh rugby and the whole point of the PRA25 was two things.

"One was to increase funding to clubs to ensure they were more competitive and ensure they have the right support for players which also benefits the national team.

"The other bit was improved rugby alignment across the system and [to] build on the great work [done by] Steve Tandy and Dave Reddin. The clubs have already started to do that."

So, PRA lasts until 2030? It's a five-year deal from 2025 but with a break clause in 2028 when further decisions will be made?

"That's right. What we are saying to the clubs at the moment is it's until 2028 because basically what they've got is fixed, guaranteed funding until then.

"At that point, we can change that. So, the actual whole agreement is until the end of the 2029-30 season but essentially there is a break clause in 2028."

When you took over Cardiff there were concerns raised by other regions and you ended up in arbitration with Scarlets. Those concerns will presumably still linger, or have you had assurances they are comfortable with owning Cardiff for an undefined period of time?

"When we originally took on and rescued Cardiff, we agreed a set of assurances with Dragons at the time and those assurances will continue going forward.

"That's about making sure there is transparency, Cardiff are treated the same way as others and they don't get any preferential treatment.

"We're committed to that and made that clear to the clubs."

You are still committed to three teams, which would mean cutting a team in 2028. So, by that rationale, it's status quo for the next two seasons if Ospreys and Scarlets sign the PRA25 agreement?

"We've had this conversation a lot. I'm not going to sit here and commit to what is going to happen, because something like Cardiff going into administration meant we had to rethink our strategy.

"But all things being equal, and things that are within our control, if they both sign the PRA, it's four clubs for the next two seasons."

Doubling down on cutting a team

So then it's still one club to be cut by the start of the 2028-29 season. Nothing that you've seen recently has deterred you from that?

"No, nothing. Or the board, we remain committed to reducing the number of clubs.

"We're going to be bringing proposals back to the board, looking at the different options and working collaboratively with the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) to look at how we do that. So we'll make an announcement in June on the next steps."

Is a tender process part of that if consensus is not reached?

"That is one option. It's complex, because there's not just how, it's when. You want to balance making sure there's some stability, but also giving people certainty.

"That's important for employees, fans and players. So we've got to balance some various different risks and challenges and make sure we look at that carefully."

What would you say the future of Ospreys and Scarlets is?

"I would say wait until June. I know that's hard and people would like to have all the answers now, but we're going to work collaboratively with the PRB to look at what the process will be post June and then we'll be open about explaining what the next steps will be."

When you had press conferences in August and October and statements were made about getting down as quickly as possible to three teams, there was talk of consent and a tender process starting last December. None of those things have happened. Why should fans have faith in the executive and board to achieve what they're trying to do?

"It is complex and lots of different things happen. When we did the press conference in October there was a commitment to try and find it by consensus at that point.

"We didn't know Y11 were potentially going to bid for Cardiff, so once that happened we have to go through that process and take it a step at a time.

"You have to be agile and flexible in your strategy and able to work out what comes next.

"The board and executive are determined to do this in the best way possible and we've got to constantly balance what's best as a national governing body in the interest of the whole system.

"Sometimes decisions may feel difficult for certain parts of that system, in terms of timing or how we're going about it.

"Our job is constantly to say what is in the best interest of the whole system."

Why don't you just shut Cardiff down and go to three? You could do it tomorrow and get what you wanted?

"I don't believe it's the right thing for Welsh rugby. I talk about my job as chief executive of the national governing body. I have to make decisions based on the whole system.

"That is often hard, because it doesn't necessarily mean individual bits of the system all benefit from it in the same way and equally. But that's my job and I do not believe that shutting Cardiff is the right answer."

Does the Y11 Cardiff deal falling through mean you have lost a way of going to three sides?

"It was never our way of going from four to three. I said that at the time and it was questioned.

"They were completely independent processes. I never saw that as an easy option of getting from four to three. People assumed that's what was happening.

"Y11 remained committed to Ospreys as well as wanting to potentially purchase Cardiff."

On the finances, you've now got in theory four teams until the end of the 2027-28 season, you now own Cardiff, and still have to fund the pathway. A reason given to drop a region was to concentrate money so are you in a position financially to do all of that to the end of 2027-28 season?

"We can do all that until the end of the 2027-28 season because of the improvement in our finances.

"We've had a tough year financially because of ticket sales etc but we're still performing a level higher than previously.

"At that point in 2028 it becomes difficult in terms of banking agreements and covenants and our kind of debt and all those elements.

"That's why it's important we continue to work on what the future looks like."

Tierney addresses her future

Dave Reddin and you were committed to this plan. Dave was an official architect and you have supported it. Is it difficult to proceed [in your roles], given that plan is perhaps not completely called off, but you're clearly not hitting the timescales you initially planned?

"The timescales we initially planned and communicated was always by the end of the 2027-28 season.

"We're committed to that plan and will continue to work collaboratively with the PRB to find the best way through.

"It is not that timescales haven't been hit because we're still within the timescale we set ourselves. We always said 2028 when going down to three teams."

If you look at the history of the WRU chairs and chief executive, they tend to leave in pairs. We know that the chair is leaving in July. Where do you stand in your position? Are you still keen to continue in this role?

"I'm keen to continue. I still find it an absolute privilege and love being able to do it, but don't also take it for granted.

"I've learned in my career when you get a new boss, things can change.

"I'll wait and see if who that new boss is and if I've got their support, I'll want to stay.

"I reflect on what would come if you change the chair and chief executive at the same time.

"That would bring more instability into Welsh rugby, which I don't think is needed.

"I'm aware a new chair may have a different view on that and I will listen and respect that."

It has been a difficult year for you personally but you are determined to see this through?

"In my position, you wouldn't not challenge yourself about whether it's the right thing for me personally from a family and a health perspective.

"In the past year, it has been emotionally draining, exhausting and stressful but there's something powerful about knowing I choose to do this job.

"I don't have to do this job. I choose to do it and I love doing it."

What would you say to critics who say your position is untenable [over the Cardiff deal]?

"It depends how you define delivering a deal. If delivering a deal is to sell Cardiff at any price when it doesn't make commercial sense, that's not the right measure of whether you've been successful.

"As a chief executive you've got to take difficult decisions also and there's as many people out there who are pleased with the result."

What would your message be to the Welsh fans who are seeing this announcement today?

"I hope they will welcome the stability and certainty it brings and they continue to get out there and support their teams.

"Nothing is more important than having fans turning up and supporting their teams."

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