Welsh Rugby Union

The Welsh Rugby Union ( WRU, wal Undeb Rygbi Cymru ) is the competent authority in Wales for Rugby Union Sports Association. It was founded in 1881 and belongs since 1886 to the World Federation of International Rugby Board.

Tasks

The WRU are responsible for the operation of gambling in the various Welsh leagues, overseeing 293 teams ( a total of approximately 70,000 licensed players ), the Welsh national team and the training of coaches, referees and players. The association is also owner of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

The Association is owned by four franchises in the Celtic League, which cover a specific geographical area. These are the Cardiff Blues, the Scarlets, Newport Gwent Dragons and the Ospreys the. Each of these teams may at any time record players in their squad who are at clubs in the assigned area under contract.

History

First Welsh Association was founded in 1878 South Wales Football Union ( SWFU ). It was their job, the operation of gambling better to organize and set up a team for international matches. On February 19, 1881 Game of the SWFU selection took place against the English national team. After the clear defeat of the Welsh leaders recognized the need for better organizational structure was necessary.

When exactly the WRU was founded, is controversial. In March 1880, representatives should have taken nine of clubs in Tenby Hotel in Swansea with the intention to form a federation. However, there is no record of this meeting. As more probable founding date is March 12, 1881, when met in Neath representatives of eleven clubs in the Castle Hotel. The founding clubs of the Welsh Football Union ( such as the Association was then called ) were Swansea RFC, Pontypool RFC, Newport RFC, Merthyr RFC, Llanelli RFC, Bangor RFC, Brecon RFC, Cardiff RFC, Lampeter RFC, Llandovery RFC and Llandeilo RFC. Curiously, there was no representative of Neath RFC, the oldest Welsh Association, present at the meeting, although this took place in Neath.

1886 belonged to the Association of the founding members of the World Federation International Rugby Board. In 1934 it was renamed the Welsh Rugby Union. The WRU joined in 1999 the European continental federation FIRA -AER at.