A coalition seeking to oust the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board has responded to the governing body's recent statement, with a new figure speaking out and outlining an alternative four-team plan.
Glenn Melford-Colegate, founder of innovation, technology and design company Enigma, is among the public faces of the group, which also includes businesswoman Hayley Parsons, Welsh rugby legend Jonathan Davies, and former Principality chief operating officer Rob Regan. Melford-Colegate was mentioned by Regan as part of the 'coalition of the willing' months ago, one of "40 or 50" behind it.
Group's Stance and Claims
Melford-Colegate told WalesOnline that "there's enough" support, suggesting more figures will come to light in the coming weeks. He says everything he can find points towards the WRU "essentially just trying to justify itself" and believes the WRU's public riposte was "materially misleading, selectively framed and unsupported by parts of the WRU's own published evidence".
"Asking for accountability is not abuse. Repetition is not evidence," he adds. "Any personal insults or abuse directed at WRU staff or directors is unacceptable and I vehemently oppose that. [But] The Board cannot use the existence of personal abuse to place legitimate criticism, calls for resignation, constitutional action by member clubs and evidence-based challenge into the same category. Asking directors to account for their decisions is not a personal attack. Calling for a Board to resign is not abuse."
Those seeking to oust the regime claim not enough of the WRU's revenue is going into the four professional clubs and that they are spending too much on new hires and consultancy fees. Melford-Colegate believes the group has a credible alternative that deserves to be tested.
Proposed Four-Team Plan
Their blueprint, outlined in a lengthy correspondence to WalesOnline, proposes a four-team five-year alternative that consists of: central player management, data, academy standards, specialist services and procurement; regional retention of brands, team selection, local partnerships, venues and supporter relationships; a maximum illustrative WRU envelope of £110 million over five years; £25 million of secured owner support; leaner squads and central or joint contracts; explicit financial, governance and performance gates; and a 90-day independent validation process before any commitment.
Melford-Colegate says that the plan is "deliberately honest about its limitations", but insists it is a credible alternative - one which, he claims, the WRU have yet to look at seriously. There are obvious vulnerabilities and issues, including a tight 90-day window and reliance on commercial partnerships and ticket sales holding firm. Central contracting has rarely ended well in Welsh rugby, and leaner squads could lead to Welsh sides remaining uncompetitive.
Financially, there's little room in terms of headroom over the five years, and there's still a reliance on benefactors - something the WRU are keen to move away from. "Don't forget the owner support is already there," he explains. "The WRU are trying to hogtie them in that regard. This is never going to go forward without owner support and beneficiary support. But, I think the key point here is that a lot of the regions aren't getting investment, because who's going to invest in Ospreys or Scarlets right now? Because they don't know which one's going to exist. That's action that has been created by the WRU's decisions. They've completely devalued it. They've made it un-investable. That there in itself, as directors of a privately-owned company, it's a breach of their fiduciary rights."
Path Forward and Member Clubs' Role
Melford-Colegate acknowledges that any alternative board could not just preserve the status quo. "I'm not wedded to a total number of regions," he says. "I'm just not wedded to destroying Welsh rugby for the sake of it." He suggests an alternative board might start being transparent, giving "a sort of redacted costed model that proves why the course of direction is actually needed, rather than a 'don't pay attention to the men behind the curtain' type of attitude."
The group is critical of the WRU's consultation process that eventually landed on three teams - saying all they have is a direction, but not a plan. Regan, Parsons and Davies have all mentioned an alternative board taking over on an interim basis, but that would require something drastic. An EGM earlier this year was headed off when chair Richard Collier-Keywood resigned.
"Well, the only change that can be done is by the member clubs," adds Melford-Colegate. "Up until now, the biggest issue is that the member clubs have been silent." However, he claims some are saying very different things privately - but are scared to come forward publicly. "That's why we have to speak out," he added. "When trust is gone and confidence is gone, there's only one action left. The board do not have the confidence of the wider rugby community. It's that simple."
"We are not making noise for the sake of making noise, nor are we simply opposing the WRU because it is easier to criticise than to build. We are a group of experienced leaders who genuinely believe there is a better, more sustainable way forward for Welsh rugby, and we have been prepared to put the work in to demonstrate what that alternative could look like. Ultimately, the member clubs will decide what future they are prepared to accept. If, having been given all the facts, the alternatives and a genuine opportunity to choose, they decide that they want the current direction to continue, then we will have to respect that. None of us is doing this for position, profile or personal gain. We are doing it because we love the game, because we believe it can be better, and because there are far too many people within Welsh rugby who feel unable or too frightened to say publicly what they are prepared to say privately. If we are in a position to speak, challenge and offer an alternative, then I believe we have a responsibility to do so, not only for ourselves, but for those who currently feel they cannot."
The group don't appear to have a stance on what league any Welsh teams should play in, either. There is a sense that Welsh sides, however many there may be in the future, would be better off in an Anglo-Welsh league. But, despite being a pipedream for quarter of a century, no one has been able to deliver it yet. Melford-Colegate added that it was up to the clubs on where they should play.
