Hello
We have now largely completed a demanding phase for the team at the WRU where we have taken the necessary actions to close down or suspend rugby activities.
We have taken as many cost reduction measures as possible, changed our working practices to adapt to the lockdown and, where required, have supported the conversions to the hospitals that are now operational in our Stadium in Cardiff and at our high performance base in the Vale Resort in Hensol.
We are now moving to the next phase which requires us to keep operations running, but with a significantly scaled back team, along with turning our attention to how we manage the transition back to what a ‘new normal’ might look like for Welsh rugby.
This is, of course, currently an unknown quantity but we are working through trying to predict and forecast what the future may look like, as well as taking the very real opportunity to introduce changes that would be good for the game generally.
We are scenario planning to try to predict in which cases habits and behaviours will return to what they were before the pandemic, but also try to predict where changes brought on by the COVID-19 crisis might become the ‘new normal’.
Our stakeholders, supporters, partners, players and all who engage in Welsh Rugby at every level, may form new and permanent habits and come back to us with different expectations, needs or demands. For example, some of the questions we are working through are:
Lastly, and importantly, we are energised to play our part in both supporting the national and international response to this virus and also in helping Wales to adapt. We will continue to do the right thing where each new opportunities presents itself.
Whilst this is a daunting list of issues to be addressed, we are already a significant way down the line to finding solutions to many.
What remains unclear is timing.
We don’t know when we will be able to move towards those solutions as the course of the virus remains uncertain, but what is certain is that we have specific plans in place to be utilised as and when required.
Our exit from lockdown will be both an opportunity for us as a business and also a threat to our established way of working, surviving and thriving. Our mindset must be exclusively on taking the opportunity presented, to bring about lasting change and long-term benefit to Welsh Rugby and it's extended and loyal family.
Martyn Phillips
WRU Group, CEO
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