WRU Independent Review: Welsh rugby’s governing body found to be ‘unforgiving, even vindictive’ environment | Rugby Union News | Sky Sports

The report said failings of governance “were a significant cause of the poor culture” found by the review; incoming WRU chief executive Abi Tierney vowed all of the recommendations from the report would be implemented

Last Updated: 14/11/23 6:47pm

The Welsh Rugby Union was an “unforgiving, even vindictive” environment to work in for some of its employees, according to an independent report.

The review was launched on February 13, following a BBC programme aired in January which reported allegations of racism, sexism, misogyny and homophobia connected to the WRU.

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The union workplace “contained elements of bullying and discrimination” and was experienced as “toxic” by some employees, the Dame Rafferty report found.

The union’s leaders were criticised for “allowing problems to develop” and for having “a tendency to manage the problem rather than the underlying issue”, the report said.

The organisation’s former chief executive, Steve Phillips, quit within days of the BBC programme airing, with Abi Tierney’s appointment as his permanent successor confirmed in August. She takes up her role in January.

The review makes 36 recommendations in all, covering governance, complaints handling, the union’s approach to inclusion and diversity and investment in the women’s game.

“For anyone who cares about rugby in Wales it is a very difficult read and it is a particularly difficult read if you work at the WRU,” the organisation’s chair Richard Collier-Keywood said in response to the report.

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The Welsh Rugby Union has accepted the findings of a damning review into sexism and misogynism in Welsh rugby.

“It is clear that there were many opportunities to avert the serious problems described which were simply not taken.

“We have a lot of work to do to win back the trust of our colleagues our players, the volunteers who are the heart of our community game, and the supporters that buy tickets week in week out.”

Incoming chief executive Tierney vowed all of the recommendations from the review would be implemented.

“The independent review’s report is incredibly humbling and describes issues, actions and attitudes that are hugely regrettable,” Tierney said. “They should not exist in our, nor any, workplace.

“Of course, as leaders of the organisat