39-696: WRU may refer to: Welsh Rugby Union , sports association in Wales Waikato Rugby Union , sports association in Waikato, New Zealand Wesleyan Reform Union , Methodist church group in Britain WRU, station code for West Ruislip station , Hillingdon, Greater London, UK Western Reserve University, now part of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio Topics referred to by
78-774: A 13-day release facility for squad training before the Six Nations and Autumn series games. The new agreement does state that the national team head coach, currently Warren Gatland , will be the sole person to decide who gets a National Dual Contract, with a long-term aim of only selecting players based in Wales. The limit on foreign players in Regional squads has been capped at a maximum of six while each Region will be allowed two so-called time serving players who will be available for Welsh selection after three years residency (rising to five years, effective from 31 December 2020). In 2008
117-508: A 133-page review was completed highlighting "bullying and misogyny" in the WRU. A three-person chair of Dame Anne Rafferty , Quentin Smith and Maggie Alphonsi was appointed for an investigation. The review involved conducting 50 interviews with groups or individuals, and it assembled a 5,000-page document of evidence, the findings were the WRU was suffering a general "failure of governance". However,
156-473: A match against the English domestic champions Blackheath Rugby Club . With a record attendance of 5,000 spectators Newport were out-classed by their opponents, losing four goals and eight tries to nil. However, Newport had played two games in the previous five days and Blackheath brought in outside players to bolster their squad. In October 1879 Newport played Cardiff RFC in a floodlit game at Rodney Parade;
195-479: A new professional attitude to the team, introducing weekly gym training and an avoidance of alcohol. In 1912 Newport hosted the touring South Africa national team, and beat them 9 points to 3. In 1963 Newport, captained by Brian Price, claimed perhaps their greatest victory by defeating New Zealand led by Wilson Whineray 3–0. This turned out to be the All Blacks' only defeat on their 1963 tour. The club
234-536: Is a Welsh rugby union club based in the city of Newport, Wales . They presently play in the Welsh Premier Division . Until 2021 Newport RFC were based at Rodney Parade situated on the east bank of the River Usk . Every major rugby union touring team to visit Wales has played at Rodney Parade, and all of them were beaten at least once in the twentieth century by a side who, in 1951, played in
273-516: Is appropriate for the WRU to receive any further public money until these changes are made. We need certainty that women are safe from horrific misogyny in rugby, as well as across society." Ieuan Evans is set to answer questions on the matter at the Senedd on 2 February 2023 from the Senedd's Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee. As of November 2023,
312-421: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Welsh Rugby Union The Welsh Rugby Union ( WRU ; Welsh : Undeb Rygbi Cymru ) is the governing body of rugby union in the country of Wales , recognised by the sport's international governing body, World Rugby . The WRU is responsible for the running of rugby in Wales, overseeing 320 member clubs,
351-594: Is no written evidence, just oral repetition. On 12 March 1881, eleven clubs met in the Castle Hotel, Neath to form what would be accepted as a Welsh rugby union. After a humiliating defeat in the first Wales international rugby game, the Neath meeting was organised by Mullock to form a union that could organise regular international matches. The founding clubs of the Welsh Football Union (WFU), as it
390-557: The Pro14 , European Professional Club Rugby ( Champions Cup and Challenge Cup ) and Anglo-Welsh Cup competitions. Each region may call up players from a set of club teams within their area. These top club sides play in the 14-strong Welsh Premier Division . In August 2008 WRU chief Roger Lewis confirmed that the body was looking at a proposal to reinstate a fifth Welsh region, based in North Wales. Lewis admitted that he regretted
429-650: The Welsh Language Society wrote to the WRU outlining a "lack of commitment to the Welsh language " and later held meetings to discuss the matter. In a statement to BBC Wales, a WRU spokesman said that it was reviewing its website and would be having more Welsh on the site. The current logo of the Welsh Rugby Union is based on the Prince of Wales's feathers . There have been multiple calls for
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#1732771983857468-678: The Welsh national team and National Leagues and Cups. The WRU is headed by the President ( Terry Cobner ), chairman (Richard Collier-Keywood) and CEO ( Abi Tierney ). The roots of the Welsh Rugby Union lay in the creation of the South Wales Football Union (SWFU) in September 1875; formed, "...with the intention of playing matches with the principal clubs in the West of England and the neighbourhood. The rugby rules will be
507-530: The 'Black and Ambers'. Newport supplied over 150 players to the Wales national team and international players to England, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa, Czech Republic, Canada and Fiji as well as over 80 Barbarians. Following the regionalisation of Welsh rugby in 2003, Newport RFC are now a feeder club to the Dragons regional team. In March 2017, sale of Rodney Parade to the Welsh Rugby Union
546-475: The 1999–2000 season with the help of benefactor Tony Brown, who financed marquee signings including former South Africa captain Gary Teichmann . The first game of the season against Cardiff drew a crowd of almost 7,000, the biggest since the visit of the All Blacks in 1989. This was accompanied by a rise in season ticket sales from 700 the previous season to 3,300, with a further increase to 4,000 expected
585-541: The Newport Athletic Club, decided to take matters into his own hands and without the backing of the SWFU organised an international match against England . The match took place on 19 February 1881, and was won by England seven goals, one dropped goal and six tries to nil. This heavy defeat lay the seeds for further reforms that would lead to the creation of the WRU. Currently, there is confusion regarding
624-461: The Phillips brewing family, and the playing talents of former pupils of Monmouth School , a public school which had adopted rugby union in 1873. Newport was originally intended as an association football club, but was unable to find any opponents, but they managed to organise a rugby match against Cardiff RFC , and in 1875 played Cardiff in both clubs' first-ever game. Newport's early success
663-630: The Premiership Cup with a 25–21 victory over Aberavon at the Millennium Stadium. The following former players were selected for the British and Irish Lions touring squads whilst playing for Newport RFC. Newport hold the record for the number of players from one club selected for a British Lions Tour with eight Newport players being selected for the 1910 British Lions tour to South Africa . The following former players captained
702-638: The WRU to use a logo "more relevant to Wales" as the feathers are associated by some with the "English crown". Pro-independence group YesCymru created mock-up WRU logos using a leek, daffodil and harp instead of the three feathers. Using a Welsh dragon has also been proposed. The union's patron is Prince William , the current Prince of Wales . The naming of the Prince William Cup caused controversy in Wales in 2007, with petitions receiving more than 1,000 signatures calling for it to be named after
741-499: The Welsh representatives at the formal signing of the union in 1887. It was not until 1934 that the current name, the Welsh Rugby Union, was adopted. The WRU are responsible for the running of Welsh rugby, including 320 member clubs, the Welsh national team and National Leagues and Cups. The Welsh Rugby Union has a major role in the development of coaches, referees and players throughout all ages for both men and women. They also own
780-492: The code adopted. The South Wales Football Club was superseded in 1878 by the South Wales Football Union in an attempt to bring greater regulation to the sport and to select representatives from club sides to represent the international game. The SWFU though were poorly organised, and although they arranged fixtures between a South Wales team and various English clubs, they were often victims of fixture-clashes and were accused of lacking energy. In 1880, Richard Mullock , secretary of
819-656: The decision in 2004 to close down Celtic Warriors . In September 2008 a new North Wales Rugby development team was announced, likely to be based in Wrexham ; ultimately, the team was launched as RGC 1404 , and was to be based in Colwyn Bay instead of Wrexham. In the same month Llanelli Scarlets changed their name to simply Scarlets , believing the new name would better represent their region beyond Llanelli . The current Rugby Services Agreement (or RSA) has been in place since 28 August 2014, and will be in place between
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#1732771983857858-583: The first ground to have floodlights installed in Wales. In 1887, Newport player Charlie Newman was given the captaincy of the Welsh national team, he was the first Newport player to achieve this honour. In 1887 Newport player Tom Clapp was given the Wales captaincy and in 1888 he led the first Welsh side to beat Scotland , a team that included Newport players Powell and Gould. During the 1891–92 season, under captain Tom Graham Newport went unbeaten, winning 29 games and drawing four. Graham brought
897-549: The following year. In 2003, Newport merged with Ebbw Vale to form the Gwent Dragons side (soon renamed Newport Gwent Dragons) as part of the Introduction of regional rugby union teams in Wales . Newport RFC continued to compete as an amateur side in the Welsh club league. Newport finished the 2021–22 Indigo Group Premiership in second place, having sat the top of table of most of the season. They did, however, win
936-538: The forming of the Welsh Rugby Football Union, and provided six players in the first Welsh international match, more than any other club. Partially due to their geographical location Newport also played against more established clubs from England and in 1878 a game was arranged against Manchester Athletic followed by games against Birmingham, Clifton, Gloucester and Swindon. Their dominance led Newport's club secretary, Richard Mulloch to arrange
975-443: The home of Welsh rugby union, the 74,500 capacity Millennium Stadium , Cardiff, "an icon of the modern Wales". After the national team the next highest level of representation in Wales is the four regions based around top club sides, but representing a larger area. These regions came into being in 2003 when the WRU elected to reduce the current top tier of Welsh professional rugby union from nine clubs into five regions modelled on
1014-521: The late Ray Gravell instead. In January 2023, a BBC Wales investigation included multiple former WRU employees who made allegations of a "toxic culture" in the workplace of the WRU. Later that week, Steve Phillips resigned as the chief executive officer of the WRU and was replaced by Nigel Walker . WRU chair Ieuan Evans said that an external taskforce would be established to deal with the allegations. In response to this news, Plaid Cymru Senedd member, Heledd Fychan said: "Steve Phillips' position
1053-518: The match at Cardiff RFC that attracted what was, a world-record crowd of 48,500 for a rugby union match between two clubs. In addition to matches against all the major national sides a highlight of the Newport season was the annual match against the Barbarians , ensuring that the Newport fans enjoyed watching world-class players to supplement the Welsh internationals who were a common feature of
1092-477: The new RSA. The new agreement also allows players to be offered a National Dual Contract (NDC), which means the union will pay 60% of a NDC player's salary and their region 40%. They also become available for all Welsh senior matches, despite if the match falls outside World Rugby 's international release windows in June and November. The WRU retained the right to play up to 13 senior international games each year with
1131-464: The official date of creation of the Welsh Rugby Union. In March 1880 nine teams supposedly met at the Tenby Hotel, Swansea with the intent of creating a new union. These teams are thought to have been, Cardiff RFC , Chepstow RFC , Haverfordwest RFC , Llandaff RFC , Llanelli RFC , Neath RFC , Newport RFC , Pontypridd RFC and Swansea RFC . The issue with accepting this meeting is that there
1170-467: The organised approach of the report has been noted as being too political for rugby union. After the publication of the findings of the report, the WRU was forced to change the personnel on an executive level in the WRU, involving the appointment of a first female Chief Executive, Abi Tierney , and Richard Collier-Keywood as the new WRU chair. Position no longer exists Newport RFC Newport Rugby Football Club ( Welsh : Clwb Rygbi Casnewydd )
1209-619: The presence of the club, or if Neath RFC actually did not attend. The fact that two of the main committee members of the SWFU, John Llewellyn and Sam Clark were Neath men, and the creation of the WFU disbanded their union, is generally accepted as the reason for the absence of a Neath representative. The WRU was a founding member of the International Rugby Football Board, now known as World Rugby , in 1886 with Scotland and Ireland , with Mullock and Horace Lyne
WRU - Misplaced Pages Continue
1248-402: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title WRU . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WRU&oldid=875622548 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
1287-599: The successful Irish provinces and the Super Rugby franchises in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand . The WRU had hoped to reduce the teams to four regions but Cardiff and Llanelli successfully argued for stand-alone status. After one year the Celtic Warriors region was closed down and the four surviving regional clubs are Cardiff Blues , Scarlets , Ospreys and Newport Gwent Dragons . They play in
1326-539: The union and the four Welsh regions ( Cardiff Blues , Newport Gwent Dragons , Ospreys and Scarlets ) for six years. The RSA delivers £8.7million a year to the Regions guaranteed to be spent on Welsh qualified players with a complex matrix of funding, also guaranteeing a further £3.6million in loan facilities from the WRU repayable during the term of the RSA. Each Region also receives a one-off £500,000 payment on signature of
1365-469: Was agreed following a vote of Newport RFC shareholders. The takeover was completed on 27 June 2017 and work started to install a hybrid grass pitch for the 2017–18 rugby and football season. In October 2021 Newport RFC relocated their home matches to Newport Stadium whilst agreeing with the WRU to play two matches per season at Rodney Parade. Newport RFC were formed in 1874 under the financial backing of
1404-487: Was granted Freedom of the City of Newport on the 50th anniversary of this victory. After rugby turned professional in 1995, Newport initially struggled, being relegated after finishing bottom of the eight-team Welsh Premier Division in 1998, only to be reinstated after Cardiff and Swansea 1998–99 Welsh rugby union rebel season over a dispute with the WRU. After staying up, Newport then moved to full-time professionalism for
1443-421: Was originally known, were Swansea C & FC , Pontypool RFC , Newport RFC , Merthyr RFC , Llanelli RFC , Bangor RFC , Brecon RFC , Cardiff RFC , Lampeter RFC , Llandovery RFC and Llandeilo RFC . Strangely the oldest rugby club in Wales, Neath RFC are not recorded as being present, even though the meeting took place in the town of Neath. It is unknown if this was an oversight by the committee to record
1482-422: Was remarkable, winning every match in their first four seasons between 1875 and 1879. They were also successful in other tournaments winning the first two South Wales Cup competitions. The club's strength was reflected at international level, providing more players to the Welsh national team than any other club in the nineteenth century, including four captains. In 1881 Newport was one of the eleven clubs present at
1521-462: Was untenable, and I welcome today's news that he has stepped aside. It is the right action to take after the abject failure of the WRU to date to deal with very serious allegations of misogyny and sexism that were seemingly known to him and others. "Nigel Walker's appointment as Acting CEO must signal the beginning and not the end of the significant structural and cultural changes needed at the WRU. "The Welsh Government should now consider whether it
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