Muderack on mission to ‘paint the rugby world red’

SCARLETS hope to follow Manchester United’s model of success as new executive chairman Simon Muderack plans a path to take the Welsh region to another level on and off the field.

Muderack and former New Zealand hooker Sean Fitzpatrick are new faces on the Scarlets board having joined last month.

Muderack’s presence could be a game changer given his expertise in dealing with private equity investment. The experienced businessman will play a key role in making the Scarlets attractive to CVC and other potential investors.

“We have great ambition to further develop financial opportunities for the Scarlets,” said Muderack. “I’d like to think the footing the board have put the club on will continue to improve, particularly as we come out of Covid-19.

“The Manchester United model going back ten, 15 or 20 years was never about necessarily paying top dollar for the best players.

“You spend the money where it’s appropriate to augment and enhance your squad. The very famous example is where Manchester United declined to pay the cheque for Ronaldinho but instead made an investment in a young chap who went on to be fairly successful called Ronaldo.

“There is a strong commitment to the culture at the Scarlets and belief in the concept where no individual is bigger than the team. We continue to develop a tremendous amount of talent in the region. It’s not just about on field talent – it’s about your infrastructure too. We would love to paint the rugby world red.”

CVC have already invested in the Premiership and PRO14 and are set to buy a stake in the Six Nations.

As rugby continues to battle huge financial difficulties, the CVC money is set to be a saving grace.

“The game is undoubtedly going to change. The current model is not sustainable and private equity is investing,” Muderack said. “Investors with big pockets who will take advantage of the value creation opportunity that is going to arise in rugby are circling the game.

“This is a significant moment in the history of rugby – we want the Scarlets to be at the forefront of the opportunity that is about to materialise.”