Welsh game suffers mortal blow with Cardiff news
Just a day after Wales legend Dan Biggar announced his retirement, the Welsh game has been rocked by another shocking revelation.
The Welsh Rugby Union, however, appears poised to support the capital team.
According to Rugbypass and other European media outlets, Cardiff Rugby is set to file for administration with the Welsh Rugby Union to stage an emergency takeover.
Cardiff’s players, coaches and staff were called into an emergency meeting with chief executive Richard Holland on Tuesday afternoon, who gave them the grim news.
Cardiff, whose major shareholder is investment group Helford Capital Limited, has served a notice of intent (NOI) to appoint an administrator, and the WRU will give support initially taking on the day-to-day running of the club.
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An NOI is a document filed at court stating a company’s intention to appoint administrators to save the business from liquidation.
Helford Capital Limited, which completed its takeover of Cardiff in January 2024, will relinquish its 84.55 percent shareholding to the WRU, which will prevent them from going out of business like English clubs Worcester, Wasps, and London Irish.
“We are aware Cardiff Rugby have confirmed notice of intention to appoint administrators,” said the WRU.
“We are working closely with the Cardiff Board and the administrators to safeguard the future of the professional game in Cardiff.”
“And we are working closely with the Cardiff board and the administrators to safeguard the future of professional rugby in Cardiff.”
Ironically, the news comes just as the WRU prepare to unveil its new Professional Rugby Agreement with the four Welsh Regions as part of the “One Wales” strategy through until 2029.
The WRU wants Cardiff, the Dragons, the Ospreys and the Scarlets to be businesses with private investment, and it’s not known how this latest development will affect that strategy.
Cardiff’s administration is the latest kick in the teeth for the game in Wales, where the national team have lost a record 17 successive Tests and picked up the Wooden Spoon for finishing bottom of the Six Nations two seasons running.
Cardiff, who have won the European Challenge Cup twice in 2010 and 2018, are currently ninth in the URC table with 36 points from 14 games and are next in action when they face the Ospreys on Saturday week.
Tuesday’s announcement will raise fresh questions about the viability of the professional game in Britain, given former English Premiership clubs Worcester, Wasps and London Irish all entered administration during the 2022/23 season.
None of those three teams have yet returned to competitive rugby, although Worcester is set to be back in the professional game next season as part of the new 14-club Tier Two league — which will be the division below the Premiership.
Cardiff, however, play in the multi-national United Rugby Championship and is next due to be in action on April 19 as part of ‘Judgement Day’, which sees all four of Wales’ professional regions in action at the Millennium Stadium.
Cardiff is due to play the Ospreys, with the Dragons facing the Scarlets.
The uncertain financial situation at Cardiff comes hot on the heels of a miserable season for the Wales national team, who ended the Six Nations with a second straight wooden spoon.
Wales have lost 17 successive Tests, a record for a Tier One nation in the professional era, stretching back to the 2023 World Cup.
The club game is also in the doldrums, with none of the Welsh regions qualifying for this season’s European Champions Cup.
Sources: Rugbypass & AFP
