The leader of Swansea Council has publicly called for the resignation of the Welsh Rugby Union’s chief executive following the WRU’s decision to offer two of the three professional regional licences to Cardiff and Newport. The announcement is part of the Union’s plan to reduce the number of professional Welsh regional sides from four to three.
Local anger over process and impact
The move leaves the remaining licence for the West unresolved and places the futures of the Ospreys and the Scarlets in doubt. Swansea’s council leader, Rob Stewart, told InfoRadar the region’s players and supporters had been let down by the WRU and questioned the openness of the decision-making process.
“I cannot see how Abi Tierney can continue as CEO of the WRU following the release of the recording.”
That recording, which surfaced following the WRU announcement, reportedly contains comments by WRU chief executive Abi Tierney in which she expressed support for a merger between the Ospreys and Scarlets. The release of that private briefing has intensified concern in West Wales that decisions have been made behind closed doors.
Allegations of bias and broken assurances
Cllr Stewart accused the union of having re‑drawn the country’s rugby map to favour keeping Cardiff intact, saying assurances given during an ongoing legal dispute had influenced the council’s willingness to pause legal action. He said the WRU had promised a fair and transparent process but then acted in a way that betrayed those assurances.
- WRU plans reduce professional regions from four to three.
- Two licences have been offered to Cardiff and Newport.
- The western licence remains undecided, leaving Ospreys and Scarlets uncertain.
In his remarks, Cllr Stewart argued the decision would have significant geographical and sporting implications, suggesting the WRU’s approach could force mergers and reshape regional loyalties. He said the union had "strung everyone along" and had not published supporting evidence for its licence choices.
| Region | Current Issue |
|---|---|
| East | Cardiff and Newport offered two licences |
| West | Licence unresolved; Ospreys and Scarlets affected |
The situation has prompted fresh calls for clarity from clubs, supporters and local authorities across West Wales. With legal action once paused amid assurances from the WRU, the council leader said communities now face an uncertain future for professional rugby in the region.
At present there has been no published, detailed evidence from the union to explain how the licences were allocated, and the leaked briefing has raised questions about whether options were discussed privately before the formal process concluded.
Local residents and supporters in Swansea will be watching closely for further statements from the WRU, the affected clubs and national sporting bodies as the issue develops. Any confirmed changes to regional structures would have practical consequences for players, staff, fans and local economies across West Wales.
