Dragons And Cardiff Sign New Wru Deal

Dragons and Cardiff person signed nan Welsh Rugby Union's (WRU) caller Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25).

The 2 regions person yet agreed nan five-year woody aft initially shaking hands connected nan connection backmost successful February.

But Ospreys and Scarlets person yet to work together to nan caller scheme - contempt nan 8 May deadline group by nan WRU - arsenic Welsh rugby threatens to fracture betwixt eastbound and west.

Those 2 westbound Wales regions person stalled connected signing nan caller statement because of concerns of nan implications of nan WRU's takeover of Cardiff past month.

The woody includes accrued and fixed backing of up to £6.5m - compared to nan existent £4.5m - from adjacent season.

The WRU said they invited nan "decisiveness" of Cardiff and Dragons.

"I'm perfectly delighted to corroborate nan caller PRA25 is now agreed for Cardiff Rugby and Dragons RFC," said WRU CEO Abi Tierney.

"The PRA25 will supply a unchangeable level to alteration sustained occurrence connected nan section for Cardiff and Dragons and will importantly support nan wide advancement of nan master crippled successful Wales."

BBC Sport Wales has learned that pinch nary statement yet reached pinch Scarlets aliases Ospreys, a backing divided is imaginable pinch Welsh rugby successful a 2 positive 2 script wherever nan clubs successful nan eastbound person £6.5m but nan 2 regions successful nan westbound stay connected nan erstwhile position of £4.5m.

The WRU had told Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons that they were astatine consequence of a two-year announcement play being imposed if they did not meet nan latest deadline.

The WRU wrote to nan 3 teams aft a gathering pinch them connected Tuesday, pinch nan early of master rugby successful Wales facing awesome alteration should nan woody beryllium near unsigned.

Prior to news of Dragons and Cardiff signing nan deal, nan Ospreys Supporters Club stated that nan 3 master clubs were "awaiting a consequence from nan WRU connected immoderate cardinal issues", adding that negotiations were ongoing.

The Scarlets Supporters Trust besides stated that discussions were continuing connected Friday afternoon, stating their "extreme disappointment" amid reports of nan deadline group by nan WRU.

The projected statement was meant to shape a cardinal constituent of nan WRU's semipermanent plan, which it has called nan 'One Wales' strategy.

BBC Sport Wales learned that if nan 3 independent regions grounded to sign, nan WRU would see options that could lead to lasting structural changes successful Welsh master rugby.

One imaginable result could person seen nan number of Welsh master teams reduced, contempt main executive Abi Tierney many times expressing her committedness to retaining each 4 regions.

The WRU holds nan licences for nan Welsh sides competing successful nan United Rugby Championship (URC) and European competitions.

The national has nan authority to revoke those licences aft serving a two-year announcement period, though they would beryllium heavy penalised financially if they did not proceed to supply 4 sides for nan respective competitions.

The independent clubs had voiced concerns that, nether nan projected agreement, location would beryllium nary clear limit connected nan level of finance nan WRU could allocate to Cardiff, perchance placing nan different teams astatine a financial disadvantage.

The WRU's acquisition of nan business and assets of Cardiff costs £780,000, pinch nan nationalist governing assemblage besides committed to putting astir £1.2m into nan capital-city region until June 2026, meaning a full outlay of astir £2m.