2 THE WELSH RUGBY UNION LIMITED – ANNUAL REPORT 2017 CONTENTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 4 CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT 6 GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S SUMMARY 8 STRATEGIC REPORT 14 REPORT FROM THE HEAD OF RUGBY PARTICIPATION 22 REPORT FROM THE HEAD OF RUGBY PERFORMANCE 26 REPORT FROM THE HEAD OF RUGBY OPERATIONS 32 REPORT FROM THE NATIONAL HEAD COACH 34 DIRECTORS’ REPORT 36 CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT 40 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 41 CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS 42 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 43 COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 44 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 45 NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 46 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT 64 WELSH RUGBY UNION GOVERNANCE 67 REGISTERED OFFICE 69 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 70 EXECUTIVE BOARD 77 OBITUARIES 82 COMMERCIAL PARTNERS 86 THE WELSH RUGBY UNION LIMITED – ANNUAL REPORT 2017 3 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dennis Gethin The past year has seen some truly outstanding moments on the international rugby field and I feel privileged, as WRU President, to say I was there for many of them. Wales began the season in style, winning three of our four Under Armour Series internationals - our best result for a similar series since 2002 - and all credit to Rob Howley and his coaching team who so ably deputised for Warren Gatland whilst he was away on British & Irish Lions duty. We ended the season in style too, with a victorious summer tour, playing Tonga in Auckland followed by a first visit to Apia, Samoa, under The game against Samoa was rugby club flags lining the stands. the leadership of Robin McBryde. particularly challenging, with the They played an important part in The tour saw 11 new caps awarded, bulk of our most experienced the successful outcome of an with Jamie Roberts instrumental in players with the Lions, and illness in historic series - and were rightly guiding this group of relatively the camp. It was a heroic effort on applauded by our magnificent Sam inexperienced players to victory. The the part of everyone concerned and Warburton, the Lions captain. He is last time Wales awarded so many I congratulate them all. a towering figure in every sense of caps was in 1947 when Wales Welsh contributions to the Lions, the word and commands respect played England in the first full where Welsh players and manage- across the world. international after World War II. ment distinguished themselves both At home, the WRU is aware of the on and off the field, also made our huge debt we owe to our grassroots nation proud. Without wishing to clubs for all they do in nurturing single out individuals, a special young talent. The likes of Jonathan, mention must go to Jonathan who began his playing career at Davies who was named player of Whitland, Jamie who began in the tour by his peers. That's a great Rumney and Sam Warburton who accolade for the player, for his club, started out at Rhiwbina, would not for his community and for his have reached the heights they have country. All of our players, coaches had it not been for the and backroom staff were contributions made by the clubs marvellous ambassadors for the which produced them. James game and for Wales. Davies (also Whitland), Sam Cross I must also make special mention of (Brynmawr) and Jaz Joyce (St the army of fans from Wales who Davids), who represented Great travelled across the globe following Britain in the Olympic Sevens at the Wales and the Lions. Looking across very start of the year – the men the field at Eden Park on the night returning with silver medals - are of the deciding third Test, I was also great examples of the struck by the prevalence of Welsh contributions made by our clubs. 4 THE WELSH RUGBY UNION LIMITED – ANNUAL REPORT 2017 Morris. Both men were inspirational characters and we will miss them. We have also lost rugby stalwart and former Cardiff groundsman, Albert Francis MBE, who worked tirelessly to support the WRCT and other worthy causes. Albert's diminutive stature contained a giant character and a huge heart. Please also join me in remembering former internationals Emlyn P Davies, David Nash, Roddy Evans, Gareth Griffiths, John Gwilliam, Lloyd Williams, David Thomas, John Collins, John Faull, Cyril Roberts and Cyril Davies who passed away during the year. Our game depends on that vast pool lifted the Principality Premiership A particularly tragic loss was that of of volunteers who willingly sacrifice title with victory over Aberavon later Wales women's international Elli their weekends and evenings, in May. Norkett, killed in a car accident aged turning out in all weather, to just 20. Elli's funeral, attended by My role as chairman of the Welsh encourage youngsters to take up hundreds of her former team mates Rugby Charitable Trust (“WRCT”) the sport. The role of our clubs in and friends, was a fitting testament continues to be a source of pride safeguarding the future health of to her extraordinary talent and her and immense satisfaction and I the game in Wales cannot be enduring popularity. extend my sincere thanks to all of overstated, it has been an enormous those clubs and individuals who Finally, I thank Gareth Davies, our pleasure for me to have been able have supported us in the past year. Chairman, Martyn Phillips, our to visit many of them during With their help, coupled with that of Group Chief Executive and the rest the past year and I congratulate the WRU and HRH the Duke of of the Board for guiding us through them all. Cambridge as Patron of WRCT, we another successful year in Welsh A highlight of any President’s year is have raised vital funds to provide rugby, and to everyone who has the honour of presenting trophies much-needed home improvements, contributed including the Executive and I was delighted to do so at the educational opportunities, adapted Board and staff. I offer all my very National Cup, Plate and Bowl Finals vehicles and customised wheelchairs best wishes for the coming season. on Sunday 16 April. They were a for this very special group of players Yours in rugby fitting end to an exciting club who have suffered life-changing season, with Shane Williams proving injuries playing rugby. This year he still has the magic touch at 40 three of those players are and sprinkling a little extra stardust undertaking a Super Heroes over the occasion helping Amman Triathlon fundraising initiative as a United lift the National Bowl a means of saying "thank you" to the particular highlight. Congratulations WRCT. They are extraordinary and are also due to RGC 1404 who won inspiring people. It is with great the Cup and Penallta who were sadness that we said goodbye to Dennis Gethin OBE victorious in the Plate final on the two of the more senior injured President same day, as well as Merthyr who players, Carwyn Owen and Victor The Welsh Rugby Union Limited THE WELSH RUGBY UNION LIMITED – ANNUAL REPORT 2017 5 CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT Gareth Davies As I near completion of my first Once again we have been able to of any profits back into the game in three-year term as a National increase the levels of funding at Wales and have a strategy in place Appointed Director on the Board of community levels – making to ensure that this investment is not the Welsh Rugby Union, whilst also significant improvements to fixture only sustained, but is continually serving as chairman, I can schedules and to planning and improved. confidently say that Welsh rugby is administration at that end of the game - as well as improving funding Improvements are in progress too in heading in the right direction and terms of the governance structure that there are exciting times ahead. at the professional end of our game, enabling our elite teams to for the Welsh Rugby Union. Already We have senior men’s and women’s best represent Wales on the global we have streamlined the decision- national sides, 7s and age grade stage. making process at Board level now teams to be proud of and, in with four sub-Boards looking at Our involvement with the Dragons different elements of the business - Principality Stadium, a venue to rival is perhaps the most visible example any other in the world of sport and of our commitment to the Regional Community Game, Performance events. game and the structures which Game, Commercial and Finance. We are striving for excellence at the underpin it, but there is similar hard The sub-Boards meet regularly, elite end of the game, whilst the work and support going on in each while the Board now only meets community game is thriving in Region in terms of player eight times annually. Each sub- significant areas around the country development, systems and the Board discusses their specific areas and, where it is not, we are putting pooling of resources. and reports to the Board - meaning the plans and structures in place to We will continue with our Board meetings are more productive make the necessary improvements. commitment to drive re-investment and focussed. 6 THE WELSH RUGBY UNION LIMITED – ANNUAL REPORT 2017 This modernisation particularly reforms – in this direction as we summer, return to us with a spring benefits the community game, with move into the season ahead. in their step and will now look to a new forum dedicated solely to Rugby World Cup 2019 with Finally as a member of the World grass roots rugby for the first time. renewed vigour. Rugby Council and Six Nations The personnel on each of these sub- Council and being on the boards of We will do all we can to help them Boards are chosen in accordance Six Nations Rugby Limited, British in their quest for World Cup glory, with the necessary skill sets and and Irish Lions and European but we won’t take our eye off the experience available to us and this Professional Club Rugby (“EPCR”) I ball on home soil – only by including is a concept which we know we have been privy to plans for change more people, more often in our must develop at full Board level.