WRU takes control after Cardiff rugby club placed into administration
The WRU said the decision was made 'once it became clear that the club's owner, Helford Capital, was unable to meet its obligations to fund the club as it was contractually obliged to do'. Appointed administrators PwC have sold the club's business and assets to the WRU.
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney said it was 'unthinkable for us to allow the demise of professional rugby in the Welsh capital'.
The governing body confirmed that Cardiff players and staff will be unaffected by the sale and fixtures will be fulfilled, with season and match tickets remaining valid.
Cardiff play in the United Rugby Championship and are next due to be in action on 19 Aprilas part of Welsh rugby's Judgement Day at the Principality Stadium.
They also face URC fixtures against Munster at home, then the Bulls and Stormers in South Africa. The league's top-eight finishers secure a playoff place, with Cardiff currently ninth.
The WRU added that pre-payments for 2025-26 season tickets will also be honoured, as will existing sponsorship arrangements that have been paid for in advance.
Tierney confirmed the WRU will take over Cardiff, 'recognising its critical importance to the future of Welsh rugby'. She added: 'We have been keeping in close contact with the Cardiff Rugby board for several months once they became aware of the risks to anticipated shareholder funding not being available.
'As a result, the WRU has been able to move quickly to provide support for Cardiff. Players, staff and supporters can be assured that professional rugby will continue at Cardiff Arms Park. Cardiff has always been a major contributor to our player pathway, and is critical to the success of our One Wales strategy both on and off the field.
'In the coming months we will be actively seeking investors who wish to play their part in ensuring this is achieved and Cardiff returns to the top table of club rugby.
'It is unthinkable for us to allow the demise of professional rugby in the Welsh capital, and there has been no hesitation for the WRU as we quickly moved to pull a rescue package together.'
Sign up to The Breakdown
The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed
after newsletter promotion
The developments come just 16 months after Cardiff looked to have secured their long-term future when Helford Capital's acquisition of a majority shareholding was approved at a general meeting of club members, when a 99.99% majority voted through the takeover.
Helford, an investment group led by businessmen Phil Kempe and Neal Griffith, acquired an 84.55 per cent shareholding.
Rob Lewis, joint administrator and partner at PwC, said: 'We are delighted to have completed this transaction which provides the opportunity for a period of stability for professional rugby in Cardiff.
'The structure of the transaction means that the club will be able to continue to trade seamlessly under new ownership and fulfil its playing obligations in both the United Rugby Championship and Super Rygbi Cymru competitions this season and beyond, with minimum disruption to players and fans.'
In a statement issued by the WRU, Cardiff chair Alun Jones said: 'We are incredibly grateful to the Welsh Rugby Union for securing our financial stability and ensuring professional rugby continues in Cardiff as we approach our 150th season.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business News Wales
an hour ago
- Business News Wales
Business News Wales Launches ‘Sport Business' Section in Partnership with Leading Welsh Sporting Bodies
Business News Wales has today announced the launch of a new editorial section titled 'Sport Business', developed in collaboration with some of the country's most influential sporting organisations including Glamorgan Cricket, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), the Football Association of Wales (FAW), and the Cardiff City FC Community Foundation. Launching this September, the new section will feature a dedicated podcast series and email newsletter, providing an independent, authoritative platform to explore the increasingly vital role of sport within the Welsh economy, a sector that contributes over £1 billion annually to Wales' GDP. While the cultural and social impact of sport is widely recognised, its contribution to economic development, employment, tourism, education, infrastructure investment, and community regeneration remains underrepresented within economic policy. Business News Wales' new Sport Business section aims to change that. The Welsh independent publisher's editorial expansion into Wales' sports ecosystem will explore the strategic influence of sport on economic outcomes. Through in-depth features, interviews with senior leaders, and thought leadership from across the sporting ecosystem, the section will highlight the sector's unique strengths, including its naturally resilient individuals, its high-performance mindset, and its ability to inspire and unite communities across Wales. 'Sport is one of Wales' greatest strategic assets, not just culturally, but economically,' said Mark Powney, Managing Director of Business News Wales. 'Having started my own career in sports marketing in Rugby League over 25 years ago, I understand first-hand the values it instils – resilience, leadership, teamwork – all of which are vital as Wales looks to tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead. 'We believe that Wales' sporting professionals, from retired athletes to those currently competing at the elite level, have an untapped role to play in shaping our economic future. If we can build a meaningful bridge between the sporting and business communities, we'll unlock a mindset that could give Wales a genuine competitive edge.' The editorial expansion will also explore new opportunities for collaboration between sport, business, and government, particularly where sport can support regeneration, skills development, and raise Wales' profile on the global stage. In addition, it will examine the innovation and entrepreneurship emerging from the sector, including the adoption of new technologies, investments in infrastructure, and the growing focus on performance, data, and wellbeing. Abi Tierney, CEO of the Welsh Rugby Union, said: 'Sport is a major driver of social impact, economic growth and national identity here in Wales, yet too often the depth of that contribution doesn't get the recognition it deserves. The launch of the Sport Business section by Business News Wales is a hugely positive step forward. It gives sporting organisations like the WRU, and our colleagues across all codes, a dedicated platform to engage meaningfully with the business community and government. Having a consistent and credible channel to share our stories, showcase our impact, and advocate for future investment is vital as we continue to evolve sport's role in Welsh society. We're proud to support this initiative and look forward to working together to amplify the voice of sport organisations in Wales.' Dan Cherry, CEO of Glamorgan Cricket, said: 'Cricket in Wales is re-emerging as a powerful force for good, not just on the pitch, but across our communities, our local economy, and our culture. From grassroots participation to elite competition, the game is growing rapidly and delivering real value to people's lives. 'At Glamorgan Cricket, we're proud of the role we play in that wider ecosystem, and equally proud of the commercial success story that's taking shape behind the scenes, whether that's increasing attendances, bringing a more diverse audience to the game, expanding our corporate hospitality offer, or the growing reputation of Sophia Gardens as a premier venue for business events and private hire. That's why the launch of the Sport Business channel is so important. It gives us and our peers across Welsh sport a consistent and professional platform to amplify our success, connect with business and government stakeholders, and collectively tell the story of how sport is shaping a better future for Wales. We welcome this initiative and look forward to playing a key role in its growth.' Noel Mooney, CEO of the Football Association of Wales, said: 'Football is a powerful economic and social engine for Wales, from the grassroots game to our national teams, the sport supports jobs, drives tourism, unites communities, and inspires the next generation. At the FAW, we've seen firsthand how football can shape national pride and local prosperity. That's why the launch of the Sport Business channel is so important. It gives us and our partners in sport a professional, independent platform to communicate directly with our stakeholders, whether in government, business, or the wider community. This will be pivotal in telling the full story of football's contribution to the Welsh economy and ensuring sport continues to be recognised as a key pillar of Wales' future.' Sameer Rahman, Non-Executive Director at FAW, Glamorgan Cricket and Millennium Stadium, said: 'For too long, the economic impact of sport in Wales has been underrepresented in mainstream business and policy conversations. I felt strongly that our major sporting organisations needed a dedicated, credible platform, not just to share their individual stories, but to come together with a collective voice that reflects the scale and significance of sport's contribution to the Welsh economy. This new Sport Business channel will give us exactly that. It creates a unified space for collaboration, visibility, and influence, helping us better engage with government, the private sector, and wider society. I applaud Business News Wales for identifying this gap and moving swiftly to create a solution that will benefit the founder organisations involved in this new initiative.' The new Sport Business section on Business News Wales will launch on Monday, 8th September. To sign up for its sport in business newsletter, click here
Rhyl Journal
3 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Jack Conan reveals video from Katie Taylor inspired Lions before second Test win
Taylor, an Olympic gold medal winner and current undisputed world super lightweight champion, sent the good luck message to Andy Farrell's squad in the build-up to Saturday's second Test at Melbourne Cricket Club. The 39-year-old's words on the ability to dig deep turned out to be prophetic as the Lions emerged 29-26 winners after fighting back from an 18-point deficit. 'The video was unbelievably poignant and powerful. It spoke about being prepared to win with skill, but also being ready to win by will,' said Ireland number eight Conan, who like Taylor hails from Bray in County Wicklow. History made 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 'That was something that was massively summed up in the game because we were not at our best at all. 'It's huge because she comes from the town I'm from. I'm incredibly proud of where I come from and I know Katie is as well. 'She's gone on to achieve incredible feats in the boxing world. To be such a superstar, incredibly humble and driven is something that we leant on as well because we knew that Australia are a hugely proud nation and they showed it in spades. 'Everyone loved it, even the English and the Scottish boys and the Welsh boy – it resonated with everyone. It was unbelievably poignant, it was class. It really hit home for us.' It took a beautifully-taken try by Hugo Keenan with 51 seconds remaining to separate the rivals in one of the greatest Lions matches ever played. Remarkably, Keenan's touchdown was the first time they led in the match. Conan admits that victory tastes all the sweeter for having been taken to the wire as Australia raised their game to a whole new level a week after starting the series with a whimper in Brisbane. 'We were not at our best by any measure, but physically the lads dug in unbelievably well,' he said. Full time scenes in Melbourne 🥹🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 'It was disappointing how we played, but we played for 80 minutes. Hugo getting over the line in the last minute was just unbelievable. 'It wasn't my best game. A lot of us weren't at the races at all, but we stuck in there. You can't fault the effort. I thought the defensive sets we put in, just whacking people and just staying in there, was unbelievable. 'It's something that will go down in history. They won't be writing the history books about how s*** we were, but they'll say that we won and that's all that matters. 'Everyone's over the moon. To be part of a Lions winning series team is incredibly special. The celebrations in the changing room wouldn't have been the same if we'd won by 20.'
North Wales Chronicle
3 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Jack Conan reveals video from Katie Taylor inspired Lions before second Test win
Taylor, an Olympic gold medal winner and current undisputed world super lightweight champion, sent the good luck message to Andy Farrell's squad in the build-up to Saturday's second Test at Melbourne Cricket Club. The 39-year-old's words on the ability to dig deep turned out to be prophetic as the Lions emerged 29-26 winners after fighting back from an 18-point deficit. 'The video was unbelievably poignant and powerful. It spoke about being prepared to win with skill, but also being ready to win by will,' said Ireland number eight Conan, who like Taylor hails from Bray in County Wicklow. History made 🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 'That was something that was massively summed up in the game because we were not at our best at all. 'It's huge because she comes from the town I'm from. I'm incredibly proud of where I come from and I know Katie is as well. 'She's gone on to achieve incredible feats in the boxing world. To be such a superstar, incredibly humble and driven is something that we leant on as well because we knew that Australia are a hugely proud nation and they showed it in spades. 'Everyone loved it, even the English and the Scottish boys and the Welsh boy – it resonated with everyone. It was unbelievably poignant, it was class. It really hit home for us.' It took a beautifully-taken try by Hugo Keenan with 51 seconds remaining to separate the rivals in one of the greatest Lions matches ever played. Remarkably, Keenan's touchdown was the first time they led in the match. Conan admits that victory tastes all the sweeter for having been taken to the wire as Australia raised their game to a whole new level a week after starting the series with a whimper in Brisbane. 'We were not at our best by any measure, but physically the lads dug in unbelievably well,' he said. Full time scenes in Melbourne 🥹🦁#Lions2025 — British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 26, 2025 'It was disappointing how we played, but we played for 80 minutes. Hugo getting over the line in the last minute was just unbelievable. 'It wasn't my best game. A lot of us weren't at the races at all, but we stuck in there. You can't fault the effort. I thought the defensive sets we put in, just whacking people and just staying in there, was unbelievable. 'It's something that will go down in history. They won't be writing the history books about how s*** we were, but they'll say that we won and that's all that matters. 'Everyone's over the moon. To be part of a Lions winning series team is incredibly special. The celebrations in the changing room wouldn't have been the same if we'd won by 20.'
