The Welsh Rugby Union will stage a Extraordinary General Meeting in Cardiff on Sunday and the Sir Tasker Watkins Working Party and the General Committee will put forward the following resolutions.
Wales's 239 clubs will be present at the meeting to decide the WRU's management structure.
THE RESOLUTIONS
(1-12 are proposed by the Working Party, 13-19 by the General Committee)
RESOLUTION 1 (WRU counter-proposal is Resolution 17)
The General Committee OPPOSES Resolution 1 and RECOMMENDS Resolution 17.
The Working Party proposes establishing an 8 strong executive board to oversee the day to day running and overall direction of the Union¡¦s business. This would be headed by a part-time, non-executive chairman, chosen by an appointments panel, some members of which would come from outside the Union. This executive board would report to the elected Council, which would meet only four times a year.
The General Committee OPPOSES this resolution because:
The majority of the members of the executive board are selected from outside rather than appointed by the elected representatives of the member clubs or elected by the clubs themselves.
It is possible that NONE of the members of the Working Party¡¦s executive board would be elected by the clubs, raising serious questions about accountability.
There is a fear that the elected representatives of the clubs would be isolated and ill-informed about the business of the Union.
The General Committee RECOMMENDS:A 6 man Executive with a full-time Group Chief Executive to lead them. The Group Chief Executive among the 6 strong executive committee would be a director of the company.
The Executive would be responsible for the day to day running of the Union on the basis of policies established by the WRU Board, the vast majority of who will be elected by the clubs.
The Executive would report, and be fully accountable, to the WRU Board thus ensuring the elected representatives of clubs are kept fully informed of the full range of the Union¡¦s business.
The General Committee firmly believes the appointment of a Group Chief Executive to oversee the two strands of the WRU Group Ltd business, the Union itself and the Millennium Stadium, is one of the keys to making significant progress.
RESOLUTION 2 (WRU counter-proposal is Resolution 16)
The General Committee OPPOSES Resolution 2 and RECOMMENDS Resolution 16.
The Working Party wants a 'Council' of 19 members that will meet as an advisory body only four times a year.
The General Committee OPPOSES this resolution because:
An elected ¡¥Council¡¦ that meets only four times a year cannot be accountable for all the actions of the business it is supposed to run. Council members will be directors of the company and have responsibilities under company law which they cannot fulfil on the basis of such irregular meetings.
There is a danger that the Working Party¡¦s proposals could result in the control of the WRU falling from the hands of the clubs.
The Clubs, via their elected members, must always have a major say in how the game is governed.
Only 10 of the 19 members of the Working Party¡¦s proposed Council will be elected by the clubs, diluting the influence of those member clubs.
The General Committee RECOMMENDS:A new WRU Board be created which would be totally accountable for establishing a structure that will meet the ever increasing business and playing challenges in our game.
The WRU Board would undertake strategic planning and create policy.
The Board would also be there to review and monitor the performance of the Executive in implementing their plans on behalf of the clubs.
The Board will comprise 18 directors, 16 of who will be elected by the member clubs.
The roles of the Welsh Exiles, Schools, Youth and District Unions will be fully recognised and each of these affiliated and associate organisations will have places on the relevant sub-committees. The Board will have the ability to co-opt representatives of the affiliated bodies as and when necessary.
RESOLUTION 3 (WRU counter-proposal is Resolution 19)The General Committee OPPOSES Resolution 3 and RECOMMENDS Resolution 19.
The Working Party want their men involved in overseeing the changes.
The General Committee OPPOSES this resolution because:
The elected representatives of Member Clubs should ensure that the changes agreed by the Clubs are implemented.
The General Committee RECOMMENDS:A Steering Group from the elected representatives of clubs be formed to ensure the changes agreed are properly implemented.
RESOLUTION 4 (WRU counter-proposal is Resolution 14)
The General Committee OPPOSES Resolution 4 and RECOMMENDS Resolution 14
The Working Party wants the Premier Division to be the only professional tier in the Welsh game. They recommend no money should be provided to clubs below the Premiership for the payment of players.
The General Committee OPPOSES this resolution because:
The First Division should remain semi-professional a stepping stone between the Professional Premier Division and Clubs in other Divisions.
Ways need to be found to bridge the gap between the First Division and the Premiership, rather than reduce the appeal and effectiveness of the clubs in Division 1.
The General Committee RECOMMENDS:There be a fully professional Premier Division and a semi-professional First Division, both organised on a national basis.
The General Committee agrees that clubs below the top two divisions should no longer receive funds from the WRU to pay players.
RESOLUTION 5 (WRU counter-proposal is Resolution 13)The General Committee OPPOSES Resolution 5 and RECOMMENDS Resolution 13
The Working Party recommends only 10 ¡¥Council¡¦ members elected by the member clubs ¡V a reduction of 6 members. They would represent 10 ¡¥Regions¡¦ which would be drafted along Unitary Authority boundaries, rather than the current 9 Districts.
The General Committee OPPOSES this resolution because:There is great strength in preserving the existing WRU District boundaries.
Unitary Authority boundaries are subject to change and moving from 9 Districts to 10 Regions with new identities would break decades of tradition.
The General Committee RECOMMENDS:Maintaining the existing 9 District structure, subject to individual clubs and Districts indicating whether there is a need for change.
Reducing from 16 to 13 the number of District representatives serving on the Union Board.
RESOLUTION 6
The General Committee SUPPORTS Resolution 6.
The Working Party and the General Committee believe the Premier and First Divisions must continue on a national basis. However, a thorough review, in consultation with the clubs, needs to be undertaken of the league structure for the remainder of the clubs in Wales.
RESOLUTION 7
The General Committee SUPPORTS Resolution 7.
The Working Party¡¦s proposal for a play-off to determine promotion and relegation between the Premier and the First Division is already covered in league rules. The General Committee is in agreement with this continuing.
RESOLUTION 8 (WRU counter-proposal is Resolution 15)
The General Committee OPPOSES Resolution 8 and RECOMMENDS Resolution 15
The Working Party want the current contract system below the Premier Division to be replaced by registration and transfer regulations from the 2004/2005 season.
The General Committee OPPOSES this resolution because:
It is inconsistent with its view as to the semi-professional nature of the First Division.
The General Committee RECOMMENDS:The current contract system be abolished for all clubs below the First Division and be replaced by registration and transfer regulations from season 2004/2005.
RESOLUTION 9The General Committee SUPPORTS Resolution 9.
- The Working Party and the General Committee are in agreement with a policy that would allow Welsh District Rugby Union clubs into membership of the WRU.
RESOLUTION 10
The General Committee SUPPORTS Resolution 10.
The Working Party wants the current Anglo-Welsh representative to be replaced by a representative of the Welsh Exiles.
RESOLUTION 11 (WRU counter-proposal is Resolution 18)
The General Committee OPPOSES Resolution 11 and RECOMMENDS Resolution 18
The Working Party is proposing that the role of President of the WRU should be a two year appointment and that there should be no restriction on the number of terms an individual may serve.
The General Committee OPPOSES this motion because:
In the 121 year history of the WRU, three men have served as President for 71 years.
There should be an opportunity for the clubs to more regularly honour the great servants of our game.
The General Committee believes that the system which operated so successfully between 1953-1993, when great rugby men were honoured with the Presidency of the Union on an annual basis, should be reinstated, although with a two-year term of office.
The General Committee RECOMMENDS:A new President should be elected every two years and should only be allowed to serve one term.
RESOLUTION 12The General Committee OPPOSES Resolution 12.
The Working Party wishes to once again offer Life Membership of the WRU for service on the Union¡¦s Council or its predecessor.
The General Committee OPPOSES this resolution because:
It would reintroduce rewards for time served. Those who have given outstanding service to the game may be honoured by clubs by their election to the office of President.
The General Committee RECOMMENDS:Maintaining the existing definition of Life Members in Article 2 of the Union's memorandum and articles of association.
The General Committee has strongly recommended to clubs that they vote with them at the EGM on 26 May to ensure the Union remains thoroughly and effectively accountable to the member clubs.