Welsh rugby bosses allegedly threatened to pull women's team from World Cup over contract stand-off

The Welsh Rugby Union allegedly threatened to withdraw its women's team from next year's World Cup if players did not sign new contracts.

Negotiations had been ongoing for much of the year, with pay understood to be the main point of contention. In September, Wales captain Hannah Jones confirmed that players had reached an agreement with the WRU, saying that the players were "all happy with our contracts".

An investigation by the Telegraph now alleges that the governing body repeatedly refused to meet players' requests during contract negotiations and threatened them with disciplinary action, leaving many players feeling "emotionally unwell".

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The report also claims that members of the women's coaching team and senior management approached players about signing new deals during this year's Six Nations, even though the Women's Rugby Association had been appointed to negotiate on behalf of the players.

The WRU say that a review into the contract negotiation process was immediately instigated by the board after some player concerns were brought to them earlier in the year, with the conclusions and recommendations to be published shortly.

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Other claims in the Telegraph's investigation include that players' requests for bespoke, performance-based maternity policy, upgraded salaries, guaranteed boot allowance and nutrition supplements were almost all turned down, while senior figures at the union allegedly told players if they did not sign new deals in the summer, they would forfeit their place in this year's WXV2 tournament as well as next year's World Cup.

It was also alleged that the WRU and CEO Abi Tierney did not want to pay travelling reserve players, while they have also been accused of shutting the WRA out of negotiations.

The WRU refute that Teirney did not want to pay travel expenses, with the governing body insistent that the CEO approved the payment of travelling reserves once involved in the negotiating process while adding that she engaged regularly with the WRA.

It's also understood that the expenses system, which was identified as an issue during negotiations as players previously had to pay upfront costs which were then claimed back, has been modified as part of the new contract structure.

The Union also refute the claim that player proposals were not met, with a full bespoke maternity policy being finalised as part of the new contracts.

In a statement by the WRU, Tierney said: “In September this year the Welsh Rugby Union proudly issued 37 new full-time professional contracts to Wales Women players.

“The move, for the first time, included many extended two-year deals and makes Wales Women one of the best paid international women’s teams in the world game.

“The WRU Board were made aware in August by the Players that they had concerns with the contract negotiation process. The WRU welcomed this approach, and the WRU Chair immediately initiated two work streams. One was completion of the negotiations with a core team the second was a Board-led review of the whole contract process.

“It isn’t appropriate to discuss the detail of confidential negotiations, but the WRU will publish the results and recommendations of the review it has undertaken very shortly."

A spokesperson from the WRA said: “We represent some of the Welsh women’s squad as part of our work in the Premiership Women’s Rugby (PWR). At the beginning of this year, the Wales squad approached the Women’s Rugby Association to represent them in their contract negotiations with the WRU.

“We are proud of the support we continue to give to PWR players, and of our work with the Welsh squad, however it wouldn’t be appropriate to discuss the detail of confidential negotiations. We wish the Wales squad the best of luck in their preparations for the Six Nations and Rugby World Cup next year.”