News

The Welsh Rugby Union have published their findings in relation to the Merched Mynydd Mawr girls hub investigation which states that the hub are to return to Tumble RFC and Parc y Mynydd Mawr.

The full details from the letter sent by Colin Wilks and Geraint John on behalf of the WRU Competitions Committee on 15th December 2022 are published below.

“Merched Mynnydd Mawr”

Dear all,

I am writing on behalf of the Welsh Rugby Union and the WRU Competitions Committee in relation to the “Merched Mynnydd Mawr” Female Hub.

For your information and following the recent intervention meetings that took place in Carmarthen and Tumble RFC, there was a meeting of the WRU “Competitions Committee” to discuss the “Hub”.

In relation to the above, the following decision has been made;

Tumble RFC will remain the host club for the Merched Mynnydd Mawr Female Hub (MMM)

For the avoidance of doubt, the committee at Tumble RFC are responsible as the host club for the overall governance of the MMM and must retain its commitment to the development of the female game in the Gwendraeth Valley. This decision is made following the intervention meetings held and evidence presented.

As a result of the decision conditions below have been made;

1. MMM Management Committee/Group to be created & evidence provided to the WRU – by January 6th.

2. MMM financial management group to be set up with clear protocols/procedures in place for how funding is utilised and signed off by official signatures – by January 6th.

3. A meeting to take place with the MMM Management Group and attended by WRU Regional Team plus, where required WRU Community Female Lead on a monthly basis to monitor programme and progress.

4. This will follow key agenda items:

a. Training

b. Facilities

c. Coaching

d. Fixtures

e. Finances

f. Player Data

These meetings will occur monthly in the first instance. This will be followed by a review in March 2023 before reverting to bi-monthly meeting.

The Welsh Rugby Union and the WRU Competitions Committee would like to express its gratitude to all concerned for their input and support in what has been a difficult and emotive situation. Our ask in order to move forward and for the best interests of the participants themselves, is for everyone to now work together, and support the want for girls to play the sport they love and have a positive, fun and safe experience.

Yours in rugby

Diolch

Colin Wilks - Chair of Competitions Committee

Geraint John - Welsh Rugby Union – Community Director

On Behalf of the WELSH RUGBY UNION – COMPETITIONS COMMITTEE

CC: Tumble RFC Committee

Merched Mynnydd Mawr Committee

Member of the Competition Committee

WRU Staff members – Chris Ower, Joe Davies, David Arthur & Cleo Hardy

Tumble RFC are glad that there has been resolution to this matter and we are sure that by now many of you would have already read the outcome of the WRU's investigation into the hub committee's unnecessary relocation to Penygroes as detailed above.

We have also seen the email sent on behalf of the girl's hub committee in response to the WRU's findings. We feel the response to the WRU report makes totally inaccurate and derogatory comments concerning Tumble RFC's facilities at Parc y Mynydd Mawr.

When Tumble RFC applied to the WRU to host a girl's hub we had to comply with all the required criteria and provide evidence of compliance including, the availabilty of rugby pitches, showers, changing rooms, toilets and car parking. Tumble RFC has provided facilities for numerous teams (both male and female) for over 125 years and currently have available, two floodlit pitches and two sets of fully functional changing rooms, with toilets and parking. The availability of two floodlit playing fields and changing room facilities on a Monday and Wednesday evening to train independantly from any male teams was agreed with Nia Phillips at the outset of the hub's creation.

Tumble RFC take the safety of all our players, coaches, officials and visitors seriously, a comprehensive written traffic management risk assessment has been in place for many years and it is reviewed on an annual basis, contrary to comments that have been made in the hub committee’s response to the WRU.

We at Tumble RFC take the safety of our under 18 players with the utmost seriousness, we follow the WRU guidelines for safeguarding and have strict rules to ensure all personnel who have a responsibility for under 18s players follow these guidelines, again contrary to the comments in the hub committee’s response to the WRU.   

Clearly, it is important for parents to have the full facts so you have the confidence in the new Management Team who will be running Merched Mynydd Mawr and their ability to deliver quality training on your return to Parc y Mynydd Mawr. With this is mind we will be inviting parents, coaches and officials of all age groups to an open meeting at Tumble RFC at 6.30pm on Thursday, 5th January 2023. We looking forward to seeing you all and answering any questions you may have.

Diolch yn fawr.