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Future of Rugby Regions

Is this devolved to Wales?

Where is this happening?

What's happening?

Why is this happening?

Who has been affected?

What's happening?

Why is this happening?

Who has been affected?

Charts (if needed)

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£ 00 million Total

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Who has raised this at the Senedd?

Heledd Fychan MS

Chief Whip & Culture Minister

Dr Gwyn Williams MS

Backbencher

John Davies MS

Backbencher

Lis McLean MS

Co-Chair: Culture

Steve Rodaway MS

Backbencher

Carmelo Colasanto MS

Chair: Local Government & Housing

Louise Emery MS

Shadow Culture Minister

Llŷr Powell MS

Reform UK Whip

Steve Bayliss MS

Backbencher

Francesca O'Brien MS

Shadow Local Government Minister

Paul Davies MS

Conservative Whip

Janet Finch-Saunders MS

Backbencher

Heledd Fychan MS

Chief Whip & Culture Minister

Dr Gwyn Williams MS

Backbencher

John Davies MS

Backbencher

Lis McLean MS

Co-Chair: Culture

Steve Rodaway MS

Backbencher

Carmelo Colasanto MS

Chair: Local Government & Housing

Louise Emery MS

Shadow Culture Minister

Llŷr Powell MS

Reform UK Whip

Steve Bayliss MS

Backbencher

Francesca O'Brien MS

Shadow Local Government Minister

Paul Davies MS

Conservative Whip

Janet Finch-Saunders MS

Backbencher

What are the party positions on this?

Plaid Cymru backbenchers don’t believe the Welsh Government should intervene directly, but called for cross-party backing for pressure on the WRU to properly explain their decision-making.

The Ospreys' and Scarlets' success is known across Europe, with both teams also heavily contributing to Wales's international success. The people demand, rightfully, and deserve transparent answers, as you say, from the Welsh Rugby Union, which they've not been given. As we've seen too frequently in south Wales, when industry leaves....nothing takes its place. Does the Minister agree that the Welsh Rugby Union should provide the transparency, accountability and collaboration on how they got to their decision to drop either the Ospreys or the Scarlets?

A motion calling for the Government to ensure that all four regions are retained is not much more than a political points-scoring exercise as it stands.....What we must do is unite across parties, demanding meaningful accountability and transparency from the WRU. This is what will protect the legacy of Welsh rugby in Wales. I thank the Cabinet Minister for Culture and Sport for engaging with the WRU so far, stressing the huge concerns held by players, coaches, staff, volunteers and fans about the implications of axing a region. The WRU need to understand that the game belongs to the people and not the board.

Reform UK believe the Welsh Government should get involved to retain four regional teams. They have argued that the decision hasn’t been made on sporting merit alone and would harm the economy in the region that loses a team.

What is the Government offering the pubs, cafes, hotels and suppliers who stand to lose revenue? They have not bothered to assess the potential damage to local businesses, but perhaps the failure of Plaid's budget and the quest for independence have proved too much of a distraction. The Government did ask the WRU to consider the consequences, but this seems an inept response from an administration that is responsible for the Welsh economy. When will this Government undertake an impact assessment and explain what support businesses can expect, dependent on the final decision?

Whether you are a rugby fan or not, taxpayers have a stake in this. So, what happens if a region goes? What happens to St Helen's, where 90 per cent of availability of the ground is meant for community use? Who pays the rent? Who fills the stands? What happens to Parc y Scarlets and the council loan still being repaid? What happens to the training grounds, the academies, the coaches, the physios, to the players at clubs that are on a regional pathway? What happens to programmes like Ospreys in the Community, the hotels, the pubs, the cafes and the taxis? It goes on and on and on. And what about the young players in north Wales or rural Wales?

The WRU's own letter to me confirms that the factors weighted most heavily there were population, accessibility and infrastructure. Performance and pathways came second....The most damning indictment of this decision in that correspondence is that the two clubs already chosen are our worst performing with regard to silverware, and the two being asked to fight out the remaining spot, the Scarlets and the Ospreys, are the two most successful clubs in the modern Welsh rugby era.

In Carmarthenshire, the council lent the Scarlets funding and owns the freehold of Parc y Scarlets. So, Carmarthenshire taxpayers have a right to know what happens to that loan and that ground if the Scarlets lose their licence. But this is about far more than a loan and a freehold. If the Scarlets were to close, it would be the final nail in the coffin for Llanelli town centre, a town that has already lost too much.

Labour MSs haven’t said anything on this specifically, but voted in favour of Reform UK’s motion.

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The Conservatives have called for the WRU to provide more evidence to support their decision, while some MSs have backed a professional region for the north.

Now, in my view, given the implications of any decision to reduce the number of teams, there is one principle that must come first, and that is transparency. And I'm going to say this as clearly as I can: the Welsh Rugby Union must publish in full the business case underpinning these proposals. If the WRU is asking the rugby community, supporters and the wider public to accept such a huge restructuring of the professional game, then I believe that we have a right to see exactly how it has come to that decision. The WRU must publish the financial evidence that supports a reduction from four teams to three. We have to understand the metrics used to determine the WRU's position.

There does remain a clear imbalance in the professional game. Professional men's rugby has long been concentrated in Cardiff, Swansea, Llanelli and Newport, leaving north Wales without a professional regional team. As the WRU moves towards a three-region model, there are concerns that opportunities for supporters and talented young players in north Wales could be further diminished.

Green MSs haven’t said anything on this, but voted with the government on the October 2026 motion.

Test Test Test

Jane Dodds hasn’t said anything on this specifically, but supported Reform UK’s original motion and Plaid Cymru’s amendment.

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Who is responsible?

Heledd Fychan MS

Chief Whip & Culture Minister

What have ministers said?

We all want transparency. We're all insisting on transparency. We are also scrutinising, correctly, these decisions. But you'll also be aware that I'm here as a Minister and that many of the questions that have been raised today are questions for the WRU. Certainly, it is right that everyone from all parties does ask those questions, and I'd like to make it clear as well that I think it is important that the WRU listens to this debate today and responds to those concerns.

I've heard many of you saying that you don't want me to be responsible for picking the team, and I'm glad that I don't have that responsibility. I'm not an expert, nor do I have the power to direct. The WRU is an independent governing body accountable through its own constitutional arrangements, and the WRU is responsible for the administration of rugby in Wales. Its independence is also recognised within the international framework established by World Rugby. That independence is important and it's important to recognise it.

What's being done about this?

What do the Welsh Government want to do?

Does this need a new law or regulations?

How long will this take?

What do the Welsh Government want to do?

Does this need a new law or regulations?

How long will this take?

What have the Senedd's Committees said?

Nothing has been discussed yet.

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Relevant Votes

Date	Motion Number	Subject	Tabled As	Binding Vote?	Votes For	Abstentions	Votes Against	Absent/No Vote	Outcome
07/10/26	NDM9312	Amendment – WRU should consider decisions based on evidence		No	44	0	44	6	REJECTED (PO)
07/10/26	NDM9312	Welsh Government should ensure WRU protects 4 regional sides		No	43	1	44	6	REJECTED