First Minister Mark Drakeford says the Welsh Rugby Union must publicly acknowledge the scale and nature of issues around culture and alleged misogyny which have seen the governing body come in for intense criticism.
The Welsh Government has begun a dialogue with the governing body and says it will continue to engage in "a challenging, where necessary, conversation" to ensure it commands the confidence of Welsh citizens, rugby players and supporters.
Former employees aired their alleged experiences publicly during a BBC investigations programme on Monday which called into question the union's culture. Former head of Welsh women's rugby Charlotte Wathan told the programme that a male colleague joked in front of others in an office that he wanted to "rape" her, while another woman said she was bullied while working there. There was also an accusation of racist language being used by an employee.
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The WRU said it was committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and had investigated issues covered in the programme.
It said Ms Wathan's allegations "remain unsubstantiated following a thorough independent legal investigation". It said the allegation was investigated and not upheld by an independent lawyer hired by the WRU after Ms Wathan raised the matter and others as part of a wider grievance. The WRU also said the claims of bullying made by another female employee were investigated, and that she made no formal grievance while working there.
Dawn Bowden, the Welsh Government's deputy minister for arts and sport, met with the WRU before the programme aired on Monday, with Mr Drakeford issuing an update on that exchange during First Minister's Questions at the Senedd on Tuesday.
"The Welsh Government, in that meeting, made it clear to the WRU that we need to see urgent and transparent action that helps restore confidence in the WRU itself, and that requires a public recognition on the part of the WRU of the scale and nature of the issues that were rehearsed in that programme," the Welsh Labour leader said.
"We will absolutely continue to engage with the WRU. It occupies a place in Welsh public life. It needs itself to recognise that significance and we will continue to be in a challenging, where necessary, conversation with them to make sure a future is set out for the WRU that commands the confidence of all of those who are players of the game and who are engaged in wanting to see it have a successful future."
Welsh Conservatives leader Andrew RT Davies, who asked the First Minister to provide the update, added that he has written to the chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee for them to consider how, if at all, to intervene.
He said: "I have written to the chair of the Sports Culture committee here in the Senedd inviting that committee to give consideration to what role it might be able to play in supporting those who have found themselves on the receiving end of this treatment but also working with the WRU to obviously put in safeguards and make sure best practise is brought to the fore for our national institution many of us care for very deeply about."
A spokesperson on behalf of the Senedd’s Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport and International Relations Committee later said: “The committee is aware of the allegations that have been made in a television programme aired on Monday evening. The committee is of the view that everyone should be able to access and participate in sport without fear of prejudice, and no one should ever be exposed to toxic language or abuse anywhere in their lives, least of all in the workplace. These accusations about one of our country's leading sporting bodies are extremely serious. The committee expects the WRU to address these issues immediately and will be considering the situation further at the committee’s next meeting.”
Education minister Jeremy Miles also addressed the allegations at a press conference, saying: "My colleague Dawn Bowden, deputy minister for arts and sport, is engaging with the WRU in relation to this at the moment and the steps the WRU need to take immediately to address the allegations set out in the investigation.
"Anyone who watched the programme will have heard devastating testimonies. It takes great courage to come forward and share one's story, in the particular context of any form of harassment or bullying or abuse.
"Our clear commitment as a government is that women and girls have the right to be safe in all aspects of their lives and we are committed to tackling abuse in the workplace and challenging damaging behaviour and attitudes head on so that that right, which all women and girls have, is a reality."
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