Cardiff Rugby Board Summary – June 2024

Cardiff Rugby Board Summary

The meeting had been delayed from May due to unavoidable circumstances The previous minutes were approved and actions arising confirmed. The review of the Communications Plan had not yet been completed but would be presented at the next Board meeting.

Rugby

• There was no rugby report on this occasion as the squad and coaches were now on their summer break.
• Matt Sherratt would deliver his next report at the August meeting
  

Richard Holland’s Executive Summary

• The season was briefly reviewed along with recent signings and those still to come.
• The forthcoming Super Rygbi Cymru competition was discussed along with structural changes for Cardiff RFC.
• Richard was now sitting on PRB instead of Alun Jones; weekly strategy meetings were now being held.
• It remained difficult to develop the club’s own strategy in the absence of a detailed strategy from the WRU.
• The constraints of the broader financial environment that the company was operating within were discussed in detail.
• Judgement Day was debriefed.
• Commercial performance in the past season had been outstanding.
• Rhys Blumberg’s move to the Dragons was acknowledged and the board’s best wishes noted.
• Going forward, the desire was to further develop and give more opportunities to the existing senior management team rather than appoint a like-for-like replacement.
• A new arrangement with the WRU would enable the development of improved gym facilities.
• Lease and ground development discussions with CAC had continued.

Finance

• Year-end accounts had been submitted at the end of March.
• It was planned to complete the latest financial audit by the end of September.
• Hospitality/F&B and Sponsorship/Advertising had outperformed the projected budgets, but higher commercial incomes had also meant higher commercial costs.
• Cashflow issues were discussed in detail.
• A draft budget for financial yar 24-25 had been produced but was awaiting confirmation of the PRA funding figures from the WRU.

Operations

• A successful Council Audit and Safety Certificate observation visit had taken place during the sold-out match against Harlequins and a strong relationship was being built with Council officials.
• Support for the programme of summer events at the Principality was outlined.
• Numerous events are currently being tendered for.
• Details of the new gym project were outlined.

Nadine Griffiths Foundation Summary

• There had been a huge focus on delivering support services to girls and women over the previous quarter.
• Inclusion also continued to be a major focus, notably in relation to rugby for wheelchair users.
• Fit and Fed camps remained a major source of support to communities throughout the region
• Seeking new partnerships and commercial partners would be a major focus in coming months.
• The commitment, professionalism and work ethic of all Foundation staff was commended.

AOB

• Museum
• A formal proposal was discussed by the board which was not approved.
• A steering board structure was proposed and agreed with Martin Ryan and Richard Holland representing the company. They will be joined by two representatives from CAC and two from the previous volunteers group.