The Welsh Rugby Union has confirmed that its acquisition of the business and assets of Cardiff Rugby this week, April 9 2025, cost approximately £780,000 – made up of around £480,000 in cash and £300,000 of debt.
This transaction safeguarded the jobs of around 150 people including all the players and allows the Cardiff Rugby business to continue to trade as previously, albeit within the new home as a WRU subsidiary.
All match tickets including season tickets together with sponsorships and hospitality will be honoured.
WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood said: “Despite being owned by the WRU, our intention is to treat Cardiff as an independent rugby club, similar to the other regional sides and the WRU will assume the role of “owner”. We wanted to provide a safe harbour whilst we draw breath and look at what’s right in the longer term.
“The immediate cost of the acquisition amounted to around £780,000, which paid for the assets and funded the costs of the administration and includes the assumption of £300,000 debt.
“Various key supplier contracts were transferred to the WRU subsidiary to enable the Cardiff Rugby business to continue to trade.”
The WRU’s Chief Operating Officer Leighton Davies and Chief Data and Digital Officer Steve King, have been appointed to the Board as the two Directors of new Cardiff Rugby.
“At the time of the transaction, Cardiff Rugby Limited owed the WRU around £9.1m,” continued Collier-Keywood.
“As part of its commitments in the new draft Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA25) the WRU has committed to reduce the debt generated during the Covid-19 pandemic by replacing it with longer term capital.
“This amounts to around £3m for Cardiff and this transaction gave us the opportunity to do this at the same time by using £3m of the money we were owed and converting this into an investment into Cardiff.
“Leaving our new subsidiary owing the remaining £6m to the WRU. As part of the new PRA25, it is our intention to provide the other three professional clubs with similar debt relief.”
WRU CEO Abi Tierney added: “Our team worked hard to minimise the disruption to the players, employees and stakeholders of Cardiff Rugby and we welcome our colleagues at Cardiff Rugby into the WRU family.”