WRU finances 'pretty good' despite plan to cut regional side

The WRU agreed a new £55m debt refinancing package in January [Huw Evans Picture Agency] The Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) chief financial and operating officer, Gavin Marshall, says the governing body's finances "are in a pretty good position" - despite plans to cut a regional team. The governing body intends to reduce the number of men's professional sides from four to three, with one club in the east of Wales, one in Cardiff and one in the west. This plan has sparked turmoil, protests and legal action - with Ospreys and Scarlets thought to be the teams most at threat - with the decision to move to cut a team being heavily criticised.

Marshall, speaking on the WRU podcast, indicated that from an annual turnover of more than £100m, after capital expenditure costs there is in the region of £30-35m left to invest in the game in Wales. He said that roughly £10m of that goes to fund the community game, with the remainder largely allocated to the professional game. "I think the finances are in a pretty good position," Marshall said.

"Rugby has challenges... but within Wales we've got so much passion for rugby and there's so much interest, we've got a great opportunity with the stadium - which I think is the best rugby stadium in the world - so I think we're in a good place. "We recognise we've underinvested in a number of areas over a period of time, certainly underinvestment in our pathways, in our coaching programme and coaches, in the women's game.

"There's a number of areas that we've identified we need to invest more for the long-term health of Welsh rugby. " He added: "We also recognise with the clubs, it's becoming increasingly expensive to run professional rugby clubs, the costs are going up. "So it's trying to balance funding those clubs correctly so that they are geared for success, but also enabling us to invest in those areas that we believe we need to invest in for the long-term health of Welsh rugby.