The Welsh Rugby Union says it has received strong early interest as it seeks to sell Cardiff Rugby, having acquired the club out of administration in April. More than five credible bidders—both UK-based and international—have come forward, ahead of a deadline to submit expressions of interest. The WRU has also begun searching for an independent chair to lead the Arms Park-based club and help shape it’s future direction.
00:00The Welsh Rugby Union says it's received strong early interest as it seeks to sell Cardiff Rugby, having acquired the club out of administration in April.
00:12More than five credible bidders, both UK-based and international, have come forward ahead of the deadline to submit expressions of interest.
00:21The WRU has also begun searching for an independent chair to lead the Arms Park-based club and has helped shape its future direction.
00:29The WRU acquired the club's assets in a pre-packed deal after its former owners, Helford Capital, failed to cover their shortfall.
00:38A due diligence assessment by Thorium, costing around £50,000, concluded that Helford's directors had the necessary liquidity
00:46but ultimately did not honour their commitment to underrated losses under the Professional Rugby Agreement of 2023.
00:54This created financial instability and forced the WRU to intervene.
01:00A structural review of the professional game is now underway which could reduce the number of Welsh regions from four to three or even two.
01:09Cardiff and Dragons signed the new five-year PRA 2025 deal while the Ospreys and Scarlets declined, citing concerns over Cardiff being turned into a super region.
01:20Legal action from the two dissenting clubs is now being considered, focused on claims of unfair treatment and a lack of consultation.
01:29The WRU insists that its ownership of Cardiff is temporary and that it will treat the club independently.
01:36However, any sale will likely require the buyer to offer £6 million to the WRU debt.
01:42A formal sale process will begin once the structural review concludes on July 9th for counterbills and expiries.
01:51Chairman Richard Collier Keyword said,
01:54We've had more than five credible expressions of interest and that's positive, but I wouldn't buy Cardiff unless I knew what the future structure of Welsh rugby look like.
02:04Whether bidders will commit to a loss-making club remains uncertain, but the WRU is clear, everything is on the table.
