Business Leader Mobilizes Oversight Committee for Welsh Rugby Union Amid Crisis
One of Wales's most influential business figures is spearheading an initiative to establish an oversight committee aimed at holding the Welsh Rugby Union accountable during what is widely regarded as its most severe crisis in the professional era. Rob Regan, former chief operating officer of Principality Building Society and Legal and General, is actively mobilizing support from businesses, clubs, sponsors, and key industry leaders to form what he describes as a "coalition of the willing."
Addressing Governance and Performance Issues
The Welsh Rugby Union, along with its embattled chairman Richard Collier Keywood, is currently facing an Extraordinary General Meeting. This comes amid a legal dispute over plans to reduce the number of professional clubs and concerns about the national team's stagnant results. Regan's proposed committee seeks to provide independent oversight and ensure accountability for chief executive Abi Tierney and chair Collier Keywood.
"You've got the group that are pushing for the EGM," Regan explained in an exclusive interview. "And then there's a whole lot of other people. What I've been trying to do is rather than be the bloke that sits on the sidelines, I'm trying to galvanize different groups and create a single force."
Building Momentum and Strategy
Over the past ten days, Regan has reported significant progress in gathering support from senior figures within the rugby community. He has engaged with sponsors and benefactors across both regional and grassroots levels of the sport. The committee has already developed a draft strategy and conducted a review of governance models in different regions, positioning itself as a "real force for good by business."
Regan emphasized the importance of credibility and independence in this endeavor. "We need to make sure that we're credible, capable, independent and seen as this force for good, not some noisy echo chamber," he stated. He also noted that some regional rugby chiefs have been supportive and reached out to him, expressing a desire for change within the union.
Vision for a Strategic Advisory Committee
Regan's personal vision includes the establishment of a Strategic Advisory Committee similar to that of the Football Association of Wales, which would provide independent input on strategic matters. He believes that any successful oversight group should launch alongside new leadership in the roles of chief executive and chair, though he has ruled out pursuing these positions himself despite previously reaching the latter stages of a Welsh Rugby Union chief hiring process.
He also raised concerns about some individuals running the Welsh game not being full-time residents in the country, despite their heritage claims. "Where could we get legitimacy without having conflict?" Regan added. "That's my challenge at the moment. Everybody's got a view."
This initiative represents a significant effort to address governance issues and restore confidence in Welsh rugby during a period of unprecedented turmoil.
