WRU faces new sexism allegations over Wales deals

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is facing caller allegations of sexism and inequality, little than a twelvemonth aft a damning autarkic reappraisal into its culture.

They centre connected drawn-out declaration negotiations involving the women’s elder side.

The Telegraph has reported, external players were threatened with consequences if they did not hold to the Union’s terms, including being withdrawn from large tournaments.

The WRU said it has since initiated an autarkic reappraisal of the process and volition people the recommendations.

The archetypal ever nonrecreational contracts were signed by the women’s squad astatine the commencement of 2022, with Wales making immense strides connected the pitch, finishing 3rd successful the 2022 and 2023 Women’s Six Nations.

But coinciding with the declaration talks, 2024 has seen a important slump successful form, with Wales finishing bottommost successful the championship.

Players brought successful the Women’s Rugby Association (WRA) successful January to correspond them, with issues including wage and a performance-based maternity argumentation among their requests.

The WRA confirmed the Telegraph’s revelations saying the “girls were successful pieces”, with the negotiations affecting their health.

The Telegraph alleges players were warned successful August that they would forfeit their places astatine WXV2 successful South Africa and adjacent year’s Rugby World Cup if they did not sign, and followed it up with a three-hour deadline.

Wales skipper Hannah Jones confirmed successful September that the situation had been resolved, saying they were “happy with their contracts”.

Later that month, up of their WXV2 opener against Australia, the WRU announced it had awarded 37 full-time deals, proudly saying Wales were “one of the champion paid planetary women’s teams successful the satellite game”.

WRU main enforcement serviceman Abi Tierney said the governing body's committee was made alert successful August by the players that they had concerns with the declaration dialog process.

“The WRU welcomed this approach, and the WRU seat instantly initiated 2 enactment streams," she said.

“One was completion of the negotiations with a halfway squad the 2nd was a board-led reappraisal of the full declaration process.

“It isn’t due to sermon the item of confidential negotiations, but the WRU volition people the results and recommendations of the reappraisal it has undertaken precise shortly.”

A associated connection issued by the WRA said: “Having represented the Wales Women’s squad this year, we person been blown distant by their bravery, determination and unwavering committedness to collectively improving not lone their ain moving conditions, but those of the aboriginal generations of players successful Wales.

“We are arrogant to person been capable to enactment this radical of women done specified a challenging clip and look guardant to seeing what they proceed execute successful specified an breathtaking twelvemonth for women’s rugby.

“The WRA feels it is simply a important measurement for the WRU to initiate the autarkic reappraisal of this process, and look guardant to seeing the results successful owed course.”