Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney has insisted she won’t quit in the face of immense criticism of the plan to cut the number of Wales’ domestic teams.
Tierney is sticking to her guns, insisting the country’s national game risks destroying itself unless the bitter infighting stops.
She said: ‘I ask myself every day am I doing the right thing? I have Welsh rugby in my blood and I love it. The privilege of this job still outweighs all of that (criticism).
‘Do I believe we are doing the right thing for Welsh rugby now to put it on a sustainable footing? Yes. I look at myself and ask are we doing the right thing for the right reasons even though it’s really difficult and do I have the courage to keep doing it? I do.
‘You know if you take on the job at a time when things are difficult, then you’re going to have to make difficult decisions. I look at the last 20 years in Welsh rugby and the fighting that’s gone on. I just think we risk destroying ourselves.
‘If we could put all of that energy into pulling together and being a stronger union – because we’re a union of clubs – then to me, all that passion, hurt and anger could go into making rugby better.’
Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Abi Tierney won’t quit over the plan to cut to three teams
Tierney (left) and her WRU colleagues have faced heated criticism over the proposal
The WRU is proposing radical reform after two years of on and off-field structures. Welsh rugby’s governing body has approved the sale of Cardiff Rugby to Y11 Sports & Media – the current owners of the Swansea-based Ospreys.
Should the deal go through, it would likely mean the Ospreys would cease to exist, with Cardiff, Dragons and Scarlets surviving.
But there has been an outpouring of protest at that idea, with WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood facing calls from MP’s in both Westminster and the Welsh Senedd to rethink.
Tierney has been a target for personal social media abuse and Swansea Council has also launched a legal case against the WRU over the proposal to shut down the Ospreys.
In the coming weeks, the WRU leadership of Collier-Keywood and Tierney will also have to face a vote of no confidence in them at an emergency general meeting called by the clubs.
If the motion to oust Collier-Keywood is passed, it could lead to the termination of the three-team plan. It would, in all likelihood, also leave Tierney’s position untenable.
Wales haven’t won a Six Nations game since 2023 and face Italy at home on Saturday
‘If I was to go and they brought somebody else in, you end up with that delay,’ said Tierney. ‘It is the best plan for Welsh rugby. I think we’d be back doing it in two or three years’ time if it was delayed now.’
The WRU insist cutting one side would allow the three survivors to be better funded and therefore improve their chances of domestic success.
Doing so would also free up significant funds to invest in Wales’ pathway systems.
Wales’ last two Six Nations games with Scotland and Ireland have seen Steve Tandy’s side shown promising sings of progression.
But it remains the case Wales haven’t won a Championship game since 2023.
They finish their 2026 Championship at home to Italy on Saturday.
‘When you do this job, you know people care passionately about rugby in Wales,’ said Tierney.
‘I accept challenge, but I think when it goes as far as it has with some of the players at the moment in terms of the level of abuse they get, then it’s not acceptable.’