Clubs not happy with WRU over ticket cash

THE Welsh Rugby Union has defended taking thousands of pounds of Scotland game ticket money from clubs on the same day the Six Nations match was called off.

Some disgruntled Welsh rugby clubs are fuming with the WRU after seeing money leave their accounts just before the game was called off on Friday afternoon over the coronavirus crisis.

The WRU and its grassroots members are already at loggerheads over the funding model for the community game and an EGM at the Vale Resort is pencilled in on Sunday, March 29.

That meeting could well be rescheduled over the coronavirus epidemic, and now clubs have a second bee in their bonnet over Wales v Scotland ticket money.

On Friday hundreds of Welsh clubs were charged by direct debit for their ticket allocation for the match, some seeing as much as £15,000 leave their account.

Though they will get money back from the Union if fans who have bought tickets through clubs want a refund, clubs are livid the money left their account for a game that was then called off.

One club secretary, who saw close on £10,000 leave the club account said: “It was just ridiculous. This could prompt another extraordinary general meeting and I’m sure clubs would turn out in force to voice their concerns.

“The money came out of our account and then, soon after, the match was called off.

“We’ve got a mess now where we might have to refund tickets while others have got ones for a match that might go ahead in October. It’s not great. They should just leave the money there, so we can take on the responsibility of doing the refunds ourselves.”

But the WRU said taking money on the eve of a game was standard practice and in motion before the postponement decision was taken.

A spokesman said: “Payment has always been taken from clubs as close to the game as possible.

“This is done to allow clubs the longest possible period to collect ticket payment from members.

“Once the re-scheduled date is announced, all ticket holders unable to make the new date will be able to apply for a refund. The direct debit payment process is automated and starts days before payments are taken.”

The clubs have to collect sold tickets for last Saturday’s match from members who want a refund and send them on to the WRU.

“It’s a massive palaver when we could have reimbursed our members if the money was left in our account. It would save the WRU on administration costs, and it just doesn’t make sense,” added the secretary.