Collier-Keywood not forced out of WRU - Tierney

Richard Collier Keywood replaced Ieuan Evans as the WRU chair in 2023 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]

Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Abi Tierney has denied departing chairman Richard Collier-Keywood was forced out by the governing body's board.

It was announced in March that Collier-Keywood will leave his position in June following the end of his first three-year term.

Collier-Keywood had been facing a vote of no-confidence at a WRU extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held on Monday.

That motion was dropped following news of his exit, although the EGM still went ahead.

There have been claims the 64-year-old barrister was forced out by the WRU board and it was not his decision to leave.

When Tierney was asked directly about this, she replied: "No, that wasn't the case."

Tierney insisted it was Collier-Keywood's decision to not seek a second term re-election.

"I respected his personal decision," said Tierney.

"He feels positive about doing it at the end of a term.

"It would have been far harder if he'd just decided at some point to step down or anything.

"He'll have done his three years and I think achieved a lot in that time so I'm pleased for him."

Tierney thanked Collier-Keywood after he took over some of her responsibilities when she was forced step away temporarily last year as she dealt with her cancer diagnosis.

"I, probably more than anybody, have seen the effort and commitment he's put in during the past three years," she said.

"He stepped in and became more hands-on when I was off, so I was massively grateful for that on a personal level."

• WRU plans delay will see Wales fall behind - Tierney
• Three Teams, No Turning Back: Abi Tierney After the EGM

Will new WRU chair have to support cutting a team?

The WRU have said the recruitment process to replace Collier-Keywood will begin in May with the help of external consultants.

The governing body has also doubled down on the controversial policy to reduce the number of men's professional sides in Wales from four to three.

Tierney was asked whether the new chair would have to agree with that policy.

"We haven't had that discussion as a board at the moment, so I wouldn't want to give an answer to that," she replied.

"We'd have to cross that bridge when we come to it. That would be a board appointment and board decision."

Tierney added the proposal to go to three teams was a unanimous board decision.

"It wasn't Richard's," she said, "so if a new chair came in and said they wanted to stick with four or go to three, that would be a robust conversation with the rest of the board that felt that three is the right answer.

"So anybody applying for the chair position would need to understand the board-decision making process."

Why WRU remain committed to three-team plan

Tierney has outlined why the WRU continues to plan to reduce the number of professional teams which it says will help release money to invest in Wales' development pathway.

"I think if we remain with the status quo we'll continue to see uncompetitive regional teams," said Tierney.

"As a result of that you potentially will lose benefactors over time, fan numbers will continue to drop, players won't want to play there.

"So there's lots of risks around this."

Tierney could not answer when the final decision will be made, although stated in the EGM that a delay will harm Welsh rugby's future.

The four regions - Cardiff, Ospreys, Scarlets and Dragons - will play in the United Rugby Championship (URC) next season but there are still no guarantees what happens next.

"I wish I could give information, and I keep getting asked that question lots of different ways, but I can't give you a date at the moment," Tierney said.

"We're in complex processes and they are difficult decisions that are going to last a generation.

"We've got to make sure they're not rushed, they are the right decisions and in the best interest of Welsh rugby."

Tierney also confirmed the WRU is down £6m on forecasted ticket sales for the 2025 Autumn Nations Series and 2026 Six Nations.

Does the WRU have a mandate for change?

Welsh Rugby Union EGMs were also held or called in 2014, 2020 and 2023 [Huw Evans Picture Agency]

There were 124 of 284 clubs and districts in attendance at the EGM, either in person or online.

The EGM was called by 50 clubs with one district, Central Glamorgan Rugby Union (CGRU), the main architects of the meeting.

It became an informal discussion after the CGRU's three motions were dropped with the WRU outlining its plans followed by a question and answer session.

Tierney believes the Union has backing for its plans.

"I don't ever take support for granted," she said.

"I've been out at all the districts recently, listening to them.

"If there was a strong groundswell of no support from the clubs, it would have been far more than the 50 clubs [calling for an EGM].

"The majority of those clubs were in two districts, so it was very much around the speculation around Ospreys rather than all the other clubs.

"I've had lots of clubs contact me and the union to give their support, saying they didn't give support to the motions."

Still more questions than answers

What the EGM sorely lacked was direct answers to the most pressing questions, with no fresh details emerging.

The outstanding issue surrounds how Welsh rugby gets from four to three teams with vocal opposition from fans and politicians.

A lot of the concern has been raised with the WRU announcing in January that Ospreys owners Y11 Sport & Media are the preferred bidder to buy Cardiff, who Welsh rugby's governing body rescued from administration in April 2025.

The first period of exclusivity between the WRU and Y11 Media & Sport lasted 60 days, then extended by a further 30 days, which will end on 22 April - two days before Cardiff and Ospreys play each other in a league match.

Tierney said she was confident of a decision by that day but refused to speculate on questions as to whether any prospective deal has fallen through.

"I don't want to comment on it because we're in a confidential, commercial process and as soon as we can I will," said Tierney.

"I would like to but I can't."

Will Ospreys or Scarlets have to prove they are best in the west?

If the Cardiff deal falls through, it could leave the prospect of a straight shootout between Ospreys and Scarlets for the west Wales licence, with a team guaranteed in the Welsh capital and Dragons favourites to claim the east licence.

In the EGM, Tierney raised the prospect of a potential merger between Ospreys and Scarlets or a new entity being formed.

She was more circumspect afterwards about the possibility of a fight between Scarlets and Ospreys to survive.

"That isn't necessarily what will happen," said Tireney.

"There's a few different permutations there, you've got to make each decision because they're so inter-related.

"I don't want to start to talk about that process yet, we've got to make some decisions as a board and once we do that we'll communicate it.

"We've got to take each decision at a time but I just can't rush this."

Separately, the WRU has had to deal with legal action instigated by Scarlets over the Cardiff takeover with both sides refusing to publicly release details of the case.

When directly asked about the outcome, Tierney again refused to comment on the Scarlets case.