The Joint Supporters Group (JSG Cymru) represents the official supporters' organisations of the four professional clubs in Wales.

If you want to stay informed, please follow us on Twitter @JSGCymru.
Alternatively you can contact us by email via contact@jsgcymru.wales.

Media

Huw Jones ar S4C 30 January 23
Lynn Glaister ITV Wales News 30 January 23
Huw Jones on Radio Wales 30 January 23 (Full Piece)
Lynn Glaister on Radio Wales 30 January 23 (Full Piece)
Huw Jones on Radio Wales 27 January 23 (Full Piece)
Lynn Glaister on Radio Wales 26 January 23 (Full Piece)
Lynn Glaister on ITV Wales News 24 January 23 (Full Piece)
Lynn Glaister on BBC Wales Today 24 January 23 (Full Piece)
Lynn Glaister on Radio Wales 24 January 23 (Full Piece)
Huw Jones on Radio Cymru 24 January 23 (Cy)
Huw Jones on Radio Wales 24 January 23
Tonia Antoniazzi on Woman's Hour 23 January 23
Lynn Glaister on Radio Wales 18 January 23
Lynn Glaister on BBC News 1 January 23

We appreciate that these broadcasts are probably subject to copyright, but we hope that the broadcaster will forgive us given it's in the public interest.

Open Letter to Ieuan Evans 24 January 2023

Dear Mr Evans,

You will be aware we wrote to you and the Chief Executive on 30 December to express our concerns about the cessation of meetings between the WRU and the Joint Supporters Group (JSG). It also expressed our concern about the failure of the WRU to sign a financial agreement with the four professional clubs.

We received a holding response on 3 January, followed by a response from Malcolm Wall on 17 January in his capacity as PRB Chair (on behalf of all PRB members). We have thanked Malcolm and we will take him up on his offer to discuss our concerns, but we are disappointed neither yourself or the Chief Executive chose to respond to us personally.

Our game in Wales is now facing an unprecedented crisis at all levels. The lack of agreement on budgets for the professional teams is causing immeasurable anxiety for the players and their livelihoods, many thinking of leaving Wales for contracts in other nations. Who can blame them?

It was on 14 December that the PRB verbal agreement was announced. However, the full agreement has not been completed and all four professional clubs can not initiate unconditional contract offers for retaining or recruiting players for the 2023/24 season. Meanwhile, you have overseen several costly changes to the coaching set up of the Men’s national team during the same period.

We are also concerned about the allegations raised by some former employees last night. The BBC programme was distressing to watch and brings about many questions about what is happening inside the WRU. With this in mind, we will be calling on the Welsh Senedd Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee to initiate an inquiry into the governance and leadership of the Welsh Rugby Union during Steve Phillips’ tenure.

Many of our membership are also involved in the community game, some as players, some as coaches, and there the problems are all too apparent with playing numbers dwindling. We have all seen recent statements from officials at the professional clubs lamenting the lack of action from national governance and warning of threats to the very existence of the teams.

Rugby Union is too important to us as a nation to flounder due to the inability to find an equitable solution, much needed to ensure the future of the professional game in Wales. Equally, the solution must be one within which the professional clubs have the foundations with which to be successful on and off the pitch. Success of the professional clubs will thereby ensure the international team will thrive. Something every supporter of the game in Wales wants to see.

We are mindful of the problems exacerbated by the recent pandemic which is why Welsh rugby needs good governance and a vision suited to the needs of a modern, international sport. In that vein, and in the interest of creating trust and understanding in the wider rugby public, we also urge transparency, which has been lacking for well over a year.

We are calling upon you as Chair of the WRU to:

• meet with us directly to respond to the many questions we have about the WRU management of the game in Wales

• relieve Steve Phillips of his position as Chief Executive immediately and instigate a full investigation into the culture in the organisation.

#SaveOurGame
#EinGêmEinDyfodol

Statement 1 January 2023

Our game in Wales is facing an existential crisis. The lack of agreement on budgets is causing immense problems for the players and staff of our professional teams, with many players thinking of leaving Wales for contracts in other nations. 

We see a strong professional game in Wales as the foundation for building a successful international team on the world stage. The uncertainty caused by the lack of agreement on budgets for the professional teams weakens these foundations through the recruitment freeze and clubs only being able to offer conditional contracts.

Many of our members are also involved in the community game, some as players, some as coaches, and there the problems are all too apparent with playing numbers dwindling. We have all seen recent statements from officials at the professional clubs lamenting the lack of action from national governance and warning of threats to the very existence of these teams.

We urge the WRU to quickly agree a solution that not only enables short term survival but also the long-term sustainability and success of our clubs and our national game.

This game is too important to us as a nation to flounder due to this inability to find an equitable solution.

#SaveOurGame
#EinGêmEinDyfodol

News Articles

All four Welsh regions endorse damning letter demanding WRU chief Steve Phillips and board resign (WalesOnline)
WRU boss Steve Phillips must go, says sexual violence adviser (BBC News)
Steve Phillips: Welsh Rugby Union boss apologies but wants to stay at helm (BBC Sport)
WRU urged to make immediate changes amid calls for Steve Phillips to be ousted (WalesOnline)
Mark Drakeford demands WRU publicly acknowledge scale of issues raised in devastating programme (WalesOnline)
WRU resignation calls over sexism scandal (BBC Sport)
'Ticking timebomb' equality warning to bosses (BBC News)
Former women's boss says colleague made rape jibe (BBC News)
Welsh Rugby Under The Spotlight (BBC iPlayer)
Supporters protest to Welsh Rugby Union at derby matches (BBC Sport)
Why Reform of The WRU is Essential (Huw Jones)

If you want to stay informed, please follow us on Twitter @JSGCymru.
Alternatively you can contact us by email via contact@jsgcymru.wales.