, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
So, the Welsh Government relies on the monitoring and evaluation of Sport Wales to ensure that different sporting bodies, including WRU, are compliant with the economic contract.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
But, prior to the appointment of Nigel Walker and Ieuan Evans, I can sort of see the WRU just signing and looking the other way.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay. So, but, in terms—. I want to probe whether the Welsh Government is using the levers that it has available to it to ensure that all sporting organisations, including the WRU, are compliant with the spirit of the Welsh Government's economic contract.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay, so they don't report back to you on whether—?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay. So, how often did you review this 10-page checklist, in terms of being able to track the level of progress that was being made?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
So, as far as you're aware, because, obviously, you weren't necessarily the Minister at the time, there was no obligation on them to ensure that they had a fair-work, safe, healthy and inclusive working environment in the way they conducted their business…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
I understand that.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
The former economy Minister launched the new economic action plan in May 2018 with considerable fanfare about the engagement that had been had with businesses, and I just wondered what commitments, if any, were entered into by the WRU to comply with that, the…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
We're discussing the WRU today.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Yes, but rugby is number one, though.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Yes. Because the women's game—I understand that there were some issues in plain sight as far as you were concerned. But were civil servants not giving you a brief, on appointment, about some of the concerns that existed around such an important organisation?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
Okay. Because I'm really keen to probe what you were told on appointment, in May/June 2021.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Government
I'm just puzzling. You said that the WRU have been left in no doubt about your views when you've met them informally, but are we to assume that this was falling on deaf ears with the former leadership?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
No, I think we're done.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
I beg your pardon.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
Thank you.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
I think you recognise you're in the last-chance saloon, because, if you don't change, I'm sure intervention will—
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
Okay. Just a couple of final points, about your relationship with the Welsh Government. The Welsh Government's economic contract, which obviously you enter into when you take on loan agreements or any funding, includes the fair work area of economic contract…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
I'm sure they didn't pull their punches, but it doesn't appear to have pushed the organisation into the revolution that's required.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
You can have training till the cows come home. You had a training session with Chwarae Teg last October.
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
Fine. Perhaps you could write to us about those two points. Could you tell us how patterns of complaint are analysed and reported to senior members of your organisation—obviously, those are historic questions of how it was done before—and how you plan to go…
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
Okay. How many members of staff have been disciplined following complaints about behaviour within the last five years?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
Just to enable us to understand the size of the task you both face, how many non-disclosure agreements have been signed in the last five years?
, Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee
Allegations surrounding the Welsh Rugby Union: Evidence session with the Welsh Rugby Union
Okay. But, Ieuan Evans, you were aware of the serious cultural problems that existed in the organisation. Where you just a lone voice crying in the wilderness?
