WRU chairman Gareth Davies insists his plan to reform the way Welsh rugby is run has not been abandoned, despite part of his plan being rejected by the board.

Davies wants to modernise the governance of the game and deliver a structure suitable for an £80m business.

His proposal was to reduce the size of the WRU board and the number of regional areas to produce a streamlined administration fit for the modern age.

But part of his plan has been knocked back by the board.

They were opposed to moving from nine districts to five local boards and against directors from the club game being selected rather than elected.

As such, Davies has had to rethink his plans and has written to the clubs to explain the current situation.

But he stresses the reform process is still alive and kicking, with the proposed reduction in the size of the board having been approved by the directors.

Show Player

“I have heard some reports that the whole proposal has been abandoned,” said the former Wales and Lions fly-half.

“This is not the case.

“We all realise there needs to be change. There is an acceptance of that.

“And there is a will from myself and the board to deliver that change.”

Davies has provided a detailed update in a letter which has gone out to the 320-plus member clubs today.

He explained that the proposals had been outlined to clubs at a series of forums in December and January.

“From what I heard at the various meetings, there is clear support to change the WRU’s governance structures to ensure they reflect best practice and the fast-changing environment in which we operate,” he said.

“There is a real danger we will be left behind if we do not drive the governance agenda at a time when we can set it ourselves.”

Davies revealed that the proposals were the subject of “a lengthy and lively debate” at the last WRU board meeting, held on February 13.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

At the meeting, the board agreed that:

The WRU should have a smaller board of directors - reduced from 20 to between eight and twelve - to ensure decision making is effective and agile;

Directors need an appropriate skillset so they are able to fulfil all of their obligations and responsibilities;

The majority of directors should have experience of the community game;

Diversity within the board needed to improve, with directors reflecting the broad stakeholder base the WRU serves;

Welsh rugby would benefit from better alignment between the regions and the community game.

However, other elements of the proposed reform failed to receive board approval, as Davies explains in his letter.

“During the meeting, a number of directors expressed their concerns that member clubs would not support any governance structure whereby directors from the community game were selected, rather than elected,” he said.

“Having considered the matter carefully and understood such concerns, I proposed at the meeting that directors from the community game should be elected by clubs following a fair and transparent election process.

“The board did not support the establishment of ‘local boards’, as was included in the presentation made to the governance forums, and certain directors expressed their concerns with moving from the current nine districts to five ‘local board’ geographical areas.

“As such, discussions will therefore need to continue at board level to ensure the most appropriate solution is reached and agreed, taking into account all the comments received.

“The solution needs to be one that ensures the future of the game is safeguarded and the needs of the various stakeholders in Welsh rugby are met.

“Once the board has agreed on the most appropriate governance proposal, further details will be provided to member clubs in addition to a further round of consultation meetings, so the proposal can be explained to and discussed with member clubs.”

The next board meeting is scheduled for March 21, after which a newly tweaked package of governance reforms will be outlined to the clubs.

Then, all being well, they will be voted on by the clubs, either at a Special General Meeting or the AGM, with a 75 per cent vote required for them to be passed.