WRU was an 'unforgiving, even vindictive' environment - Key questions answered
The Welsh Rugby Union has been left reeling by a damning independent review into behaviour at all levels within the organisation.
The review, which was launched in February this year, followed a BBC programme that reported allegations of racism, sexism, misogyny and homophobia connected to the governing body.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the issues.
What was the starting point?
A BBC programme aired in January 2023 probed the culture at the WRU and saw a number of its former employees make accusations about their time at the organisation. Charlotte Wathan, general manager of women’s rugby until her resignation in early 2022, claimed offensive comments by a colleague left her in tears and feeling sick, while another unnamed contributor says she was left contemplating suicide by her experiences of bullying and sexism at work. Incidents of racism and homophobia were also alleged.
What was the immediate fall-out?
WRU chief executive Steve Phillips resigned from his post later that month, with former Wales rugby international and Olympic hurdler Nigel Walker taking over the role on an interim basis. The WRU also announced an independent review would be commissioned, and Walker said: “You come up for a compelling argument for change because where we are now is not sustainable. If we are not prepared to change, the future of Welsh rugby and the Welsh Rugby Union is in danger. I can’t put it any more bluntly than that.”
What form did the review panel take and what was its remit?
The panel was chaired by former Court of Appeal judge Dame Anne Rafferty, with ex-England rugby international Maggie Alphonsi and Quentin Smith also appointed. David Lawson acted as counsel to the inquiry. Under its terms of reference, the panel’s role was to investigate allegations of sexism, misogyny, homophobia and racism. The panel’s scope included covering culture of the WRU, actions and behaviour at all levels within the WRU, the extent to which employees felt able to voice concerns or challenge inappropriate and discriminatory language and behaviour, effectiveness of the WRU’s whistleblowing policy procedures and the WRU’s actions in response to individual complaints set out in the BBC Wales programme.
What did the panel discover?
A 134-page report was published on November 14. The report found that the WRU was an “unforgiving, even vindictive” environment to work in for some of its employees, and witnesses interviewed reported feelings of powerlessness and fear, with the review identifying a workplace that “contained elements of bullying and discrimination” and was experienced as “toxic” by some employees. Examples of discrimination reported included the sharing of gossip that a female staff member had “slept her way” into her job, use of the phrase “hello sugar t***” and the use of slurs about women in same-sex relationships.
What has been recommended and what is the WRU’s response?
The panel made 36 recommendations, including a need for more transparency. The WRU was urged to align clearly and publicly with inclusion and diversity, and the report also called for further investment in the women’s and girls’ game, with spending in line with other unions after the review found it was not “properly supported and developed”. The WRU had already committed to ensuring that all of the recommendations are actioned, and WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood said: “We have let people down. We have to do better and we will.”
Has the WRU already started making changes?
Yes. In June, Collier-Keywood became the WRU’s first independently-appointed chair – previous chairs were elected by the WRU’s member clubs – and the WRU’s first female chief executive Abi Tierney will start work in January. A reformed WRU board will include a combination of appointed and elected directors. Six of the appointed directors have been announced, with four of them being women. Collier-Keywood says that progress has been made on improving employment practices. The WRU’s women’s high-performance programme, meanwhile, has received significant investment, with 32 full-time playing contracts now in place. A wider strategy for women’s and girls’ rugby will be delivered in 2024.
Comments on RugbyPass
Excellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
1 Go to commentsMorning, John. Do you think that it may be a good idea to rest both teams from the Madrid comp leading in to the Olympics
2 Go to comments« I am preparing myself for much more, something much bigger. I’m focussing on the next cycle, » You don’t say…
1 Go to commentsGeez plenty of time to come right before test season starts. Dont panic mr Mannering!!!!!
1 Go to commentsGreat read Nick. The Reds really have been great to watch this year, and the improvement of not only the players you mention, but the squad in general has been obvious. The Reds 10/12 play making axis is a nice counterpoint to the 10/15 partnership at the Brumbies and Rebels. If Schmidt was to pick say, Lolesio, Paisami and Wright / Kellaway, would this be too many play makers? I notice in a lot of those clips Tim Ryan playing across the field in support of Vunivalu. Is this a feature of Kiss’s structure?
3 Go to commentsSo sad, god rest him. Too young to be gone. RIP
2 Go to commentsRIP big man 🙏
2 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
3 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
7 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
3 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
7 Go to comments