Wales
WRU injects more money into the game ... but Moffett is unimpressed
ESPN Staff
April 10, 2014

The Welsh Rugby Union has injected new funds into Wales' professional game.

The WRU has increased funding to £1.5m in the Premiership and £2.6m for community rugby with both new levels starting on July 1.

"Our stated priorities are the wellbeing of elite and community rugby," WRU chief Roger Lewis said. "The approval of the increases follows the strategic plan set out by the WRU board earlier this year when funding levels for the entire game were discussed.

"I am particularly pleased that we are able to deliver these enhanced levels of direct funding during these challenging economic times for Wales."

But the news has not been welcomed by everyone. David Moffett, ex-WRU CEO, has dismissed the increased spending as a "paltry amount" and added it "indicates to me they are not serious about the grassroots of the game".

Moffett, talking to the BBC, also claims he has enough votes to force an EGM as he wants to stand for chairman of the WRU, a plan he outlined in his 17-point manifesto. Though he believes he has the necessary 32-club backing, he wants to garner more support before forcing the EGM.

"I've got, at the last count, just around about the number I need for the clubs to call an EGM," Moffett said. "But I'm not going to do that with only 32 clubs - I want many more than that because I don't want any clubs that might suffer the consequences if there're only 32 of them.

"I'm going for a lot more than that and we've got a plan in place for the next two or three weeks which sees us going out on various meetings. We're inviting all the clubs to come along, ask me questions and I'll answer any question they have in respect of the manifesto.

"Then hopefully we'll be in a position at the end of that week to be able to announce that there will be an EGM called and I feel confident that there will be. My plan for the future of Welsh rugby is driven from the bottom up, not the top down. It's my absolute unshakeable view that the WRU has neglected that [grassroots] game in favour of Team Wales and it's got to stop."

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