Heledd Fychan Canol De Cymru - South Wales Central

ABUNDANTLY CLEAR” WELSH GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE DONE “CONSIDERABLY MORE” WITH WRU ALLEGATIONS, SAYS PLAID CYMRU Heledd Fychan MS, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on sport has said that “it’s abundantly clear” that Welsh Government could have done “much, much more” to act on allegations over sexism and misogyny in the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). Ms Fychan’s comments follow a scrutiny session in a Senedd Committee today (Thursday 2 February) of the Welsh Government over allegations surrounding the WRU. During the scrutiny session, Dawn Bowden MS confirmed that she had been aware of issues raised by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi in a letter received on 9 May 2022, and confirmed that the letter referred to “sexism and misogyny, which I think had been widely known within the WRU …probably going back 20 years.”

Plaid Cymru's sports, culture and international spokesperson, Heledd Fychan MS has responded to the resignation of WRU chief executive Steve Phillips Heledd Fychan said: “Steve Phillips’ position was untenable, and I welcome today’s news that he has stepped aside. It is the right action to take after the abject failure of the WRU to date to deal with very serious allegations of misogyny and sexism that were seemingly known to him and others. “Nigel Walker’s appointment as Acting CEO must signal the beginning and not the end of the significant structural and cultural changes needed at the WRU.   “The Welsh Government should now consider whether it is appropriate for the WRU to receive any further public money until these changes are made. We need certainty that women are safe from horrific misogyny in rugby, as well as across society.”

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Sports, Heledd Fychan MS, has called on the WRU’s CEO Steve Phillips to resign following the extremely serious allegations of sexism and misogyny at the WRU.