The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) have given the Welsh regions a deadline on Thursday to sign the new Professional Rugby Agreement (RPA) or risk a notice period of two years.

The WRU have written to Dragons RFC, Scarlets, and Ospreys with this ultimatum after a meeting between the parties on Tuesday.

Cardiff Rugby are excluded as they signed the PRA when they were taken over by the WRU following administration.

The governing body for Welsh rugby announced in February that the 5-year PRA deal had been agreed in principal. Cardiff’s take over has complicated matters, with the other three regions expressing concerns over the impact of their change in ownership.

While the WRU would prefer that the four regions continue, there is now a recognition that the Welsh rugby ecosystem has been caught in limbo for too long and that the deal needs to be signed.

It is believed that should any of the three regions fail to sign the PRA deal by Thursday May 8th, the WRU will call in the two-year notice period on the current PRA which could lead to seismic changes to Welsh professional rugby.

WRU hold the licenses that are needed to compete in the United Rugby Championship and European competitions and does have the power to remove them two years after the notice period is served. However, as was demonstrated during the Cardiff takeover, their would be significant financial penalty if the Union broke their contract with the URC and EPCR.

Cardiff Concern

Having signed the PRA25 ‘in principal’ back in February, the landscape of Welsh rugby has changed significantly.

With Cardiff going into administration and the WRU stepping in to take over in the short term, the three independently owned have expressed concerns about the level of funding the WRU could put into the capital club.

As the PRA currently stands, there is no limit on the amount of money that the Welsh Rugby Union could invest into Cardiff, leading to a potential imbalance within Welsh regional rugby.

WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood last month insisted it was the WRU’s intention “to provide the other three professional clubs with similar debt relief”.

The union has suggested that Cardiff will be on the same terms as the other clubs under the new PRA and that the WRU will create a subsidiary to run the region on an independent basis.

The WRU assurances have yet to fully appease the Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons with Thursday’s deadline looming.

Clubs in limbo

With the PRA deal yet to be signed, the Welsh regions are unsure of their playing budgets for next season.

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones said last week that he is waiting on confirmation before more signing are made at the club.

While Wales internationals Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake have signed new deals, the club are yet to announce the signing of Ross Moriarty from French club Brive, despite the deal reportedly being agreed weeks ago.

Adam Beard confirmed that he is leaving the club after over a decade at the Swansea.com Stadium and is making the switch to Montpellier in the Top14.

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