Davies reveals his dismay after failed WRU re-election bid

GARETH Davies has revealed his disappointment at missing out on re-election to the Welsh Rugby Union.

The former Wales and Cardiff fly-half is set to exit as the governing body’s chairman after losing his place on the national council to Ieuan Evans.

Davies (circled right) had campaigned on a platform of stability and continuity amid the turbulence of the Covid-19 pandemic, arguing the need was for “steady hands on the tiller”.

But member clubs opted for Evans in a three-way vote that also involved former Wales centre Nigel Davies.

Gareth Davies will leave after a six-year tenure, and he told the BBC: “I’m disappointed that the work we did wasn’t acknowledged.

“Only three months ago the union were being praised for all the work we were doing in contacting the clubs, supporting the clubs financially and explaining to them what was going on so they could go to the government and get help from them.”

Davies took over as union chairman in 2014 after David Pickering’s 11-year stint at the helm ended when he failed to gain re-election to the WRU board. Some felt the difficulties brought on by the coronavirus emergency might favour the incumbent as he sought a third term at the top, with the thinking being that he’d be able to guide Welsh rugby through the current choppy waters.

Funding of £11.8 million has been ring-fenced for the community game.

But amid reports of certain clubs still struggling to make ends meet and anecdotal shortages of players in particular areas, members decided it was time for change.

“We’ve been proud to support them (the clubs) and made sure that the money for community clubs was protected,” Davies told BBC Radio Cymru.

“It was quite disappointing that clubs couldn’t see what we’d done to make sure that the same money went to them.

“That’s not happened with other unions and we’ve seen the troubles the RFU have encountered over the past few months.”