Plaid Cymru has criticised Deputy Sport Minister Dawn Bowden for allegedly ignoring concerns expressed about sexism and misogyny at the WRU when they were first raised with her last year. The Welsh Government has defended Ms Bowden, pointing out that it is not responsible for regulating the WRU.
A BBC Wales documentary recently highlighted serious concerns about the “toxic” culture within the WRU. Subsequently the body’s chief executive Steve Phillips resigned and an external investigation into the concerns is underway.
Now correspondence released to Plaid Cymru under Freedom of Information laws shows that Ms Bowden was written to by Gower MP Tonia Antoniazzi in May 2022, asking her to personally intervene in the matter. In an email sent Ms Bowden last year, Ms Antoniazzi, herself a former Welsh international rugby player, voiced concerns around “a deep-seated culture of sexism within the WRU”, stating that she had spoken to three people within the Union who shared her concerns.
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Ms Antoniazzi added: “This is not just a case of one or two people having a spat with the WRU, this is a huge problem on the scale of racism in Yorkshire cricket. I am asking you to speak to these individuals in confidence in order to collaborate (sic) the concerns I have raised in this email.”
In her response, the Deputy Minister did not directly address the request from Ms Antoniazzi and instead voiced reservations about the propriety of publishing the WRU’s review of the women’s game in Wales.
She modified her view after the BBC Wales programme detailed the testimony of WRU employees, including allegations of sexism, bullying and sexual harassment.
Ms Antoniazzi said earlier this year that she had raised concerns in 2022 and ministers should be asked what action they took.
Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Sport Heledd Fychan MS said: “The information obtained by Plaid Cymru paints a picture of a Labour minister seemingly turning a blind eye to serious concerns about the culture within the WRU. It would be a dereliction of duty if the Deputy Minister decided to do nothing having been asked to intervene personally after allegations of misogyny crossed her desk.
“There is also the issue of the Deputy Minister appearing to flip-flop on whether the report into the women’s game should be published or not, seemingly only becoming persuaded by the importance of public transparency once BBC Wales’ investigation was aired.
“It’s clear that the Deputy Minister has a lot of explaining to do and in the name of transparency and accountability, she should now issue a statement setting out her reasons for doing little if anything to escalate concerns brought to her attention.
“It would be inconsistent for Dawn Bowden to argue that it isn’t within her remit to get involved in the inner workings of the WRU when correspondence between her office and the Union demonstrates that the Welsh Government does share its opinion in other areas.
“Without this, the people of Wales cannot have full confidence in the Welsh Government when it claims to be serious about holding the WRU’s feet to the fire and working to create a culture that is safe, inclusive and respectful to all.”
A Welsh Government spokeswoman responded: “As an independent organisation, the WRU is responsible for their own employment practices. While the Deputy Minister for Arts & Sport has raised issues with the WRU in numerous meetings since she came into post, the Welsh Government has no role in matters of employment law or in regulating sporting bodies.
“Wales will not be a bystander to any form of abuse. We expect the WRU and other sporting bodies to provide safe environments for staff, players and children and young people who participate in the game at all levels. We welcome the external investigation the WRU has established, and look forward to its conclusion and outcomes.”
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