These are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, May 22.
Cardiff chief frustrated amid 'cashflow pressures'
Cardiff Rugby chief executive Richard Holland has expressed his frustrations that the Welsh region has not received the first monetary instalment of the new six-year funding deal agreed with the Welsh Rugby Union amid ongoing "cashflow pressures".
Despite a six-year-deal between the union and four regions being signed in March, aspects of some key features - including a new Professional Rugby Agreement which promises to provide "financial predictability" - require external approval from organisations including the Welsh Government. However, this government approval is yet to be agreed, meaning the regions will have to wait until the issue is resolved before the payments begin to arrive.
It was announced when the deal was signed that some of the key features of the new PRA would be "reliant on certain external approvals related to existing loan arrangements".
In a newsletter to Cardiff fans, Holland spoke of his frustration at the situation but expressed hope that the money would make its way to the club "very soon".
"Frustratingly and despite signing the new PRA we are yet to receive monies from the WRU due to a delay in getting final approvals," he said. "This is putting cashflow pressure on the company but we hope to be in receipt of the money very soon."
The most significant existing loan agreement is the £20m secured by the WRU on behalf of the four regions at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. An £18m government loan was combined with another £2m of funding secured from World Rugby with the total made available between the four sides who would then have to repay the loans. In March 2022, the WRU announced that they had reached a re-financing agreement with the Welsh Government which they said would allow for more flexibility and included extending the term of the loan.
The regions are still receiving funding from the old financial agreement and any new payments will be backdated.
Looking ahead to the next season, which will see Cardiff compete as the only Welsh side in the Heineken Champions Cup with a hugely depleted squad, Holland admitted the club faced a "massive challenge given the state of the game in Wales at the moment". However, he added: "When we have all of our players available we will still have a very strong team."
There was no direct mention in Cardiff's May newsletter of the future of director of rugby Dai Young, who is currently suspended, but Holland said: "We are acutely aware of the frustrations among supporters regarding the lack of updates on player recruitment, retention and other affairs within rugby. However as soon as we can communicate with you we will, and we hope to begin making some announcements soon. In the interim, thank you for your continued understanding and patience."
Young Wales international backed for pro rugby return
Young Welsh star Harri Doel is being backed to make a return to professional rugby after being made redundant following his former club Worcester's collapse. The 22-year-old was left working on a building site after former Gallagher Premiership side Worcester encountered major financial issues.
Doel joined Llandovery on a semi-professional basis in November, and he helped the Drovers to a historic first Indigo Premiership win at the weekend having shone for them throughout the season. Doel is now being tipped by Llandovery coach Euros Evans to make it back to professional rugby, with former Scarlets man Doel now “playing with a smile on his face” once again.
While it was the Llandovery pack which caused Cardiff the most headaches on Sunday, particularly at the lineout, the Drovers backs also proved a problem for the hosts, with Doel, together with Wales international Adam Warren - in his second spell at the club, among the liveliest threats.
Speaking about both players following the title win, Evans said: “Adam left us to play pro rugby and has now returned. He's been excellent this season.
“Harri is of course on a different journey, he's on the way up. It's unfortunate what happened to him up in Worcester but he's enjoying his rugby and playing with a smile on his face. We hope that somebody will be looking in for him and he'll go back to the pro game but we're delighted that he's played for us.”
Munster to host Baabaas in historic double-header
The Barbarians will head to Ireland later this year as they take on Munster in a huge double-header of matches.
The touring side's women's and men's squads will face the province's respective teams at Thormond Park on September 30, with the women's game kicking off at 2pm before the men's fixture at 4.30pm.
It will be the first time the men's sides have faced each other, but the Barbarians last visited Munster's stadium in 2017 when they beat Tonga 27-24, having also played Ireland there previously. Meanwhile, the Baabaas' women’s team played their first ever game against Munster on the same day as the men's Tonga game.
The double bill promises to provide a "festival of rugby" while the Rugby World Cup rolls on over in France, with players securing valuable game-time ahead of the club season.
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