Mystery still over Amanda Blanc affair

THE Amanda Blanc Affair will remain unresolved until the Welsh Rugby Union get round to answer questions raised by her abrupt resignation more than six months ago. It is unlikely to happen any time soon, if at all.

When she finally got round to breaking her silence, the chief executive of Aviva said she wasn’t ‘being listened to’ in her role as chair of the joint regionsUnion body known as the Professional Rugby Board.

That begs two obvious questions:

1. Why was one of the most successful of all British business women ignored?

2. Why appoint a person with an outstanding track record if her views were to fall on deaf ears?

Those well-versed in the political machinations of the WRU knew from the outset that the hard-of-hearing belonged to the Union

hierarchy, not those representing the regional teams. They had issued a statement in the immediate aftermath of Ms Blanc’s exit regretting her departure.

On the Wales Live programme last week, Blanc described the board members appointed by the regions as ‘very professional individuals’. She did not say the same of the Union personnel.

“You like to do things where you make an impact,’’ she said. “If you feel that isn’t being listened to, you move on. Ultimately, what I would say about the Welsh Rughy Union is that the governance needs modernisation. I do think change needs to happen.’’

The WRU’s anodyne response came in a statement. “We continue to respect Amanda,’’ it said. “And thank her for her contributions whilst on the PRB and WRU boards.’’

Not exactly what’s meant by grasping the nettle…