Welsh Women’s Rugby: Claims of Sexism and Bullying

By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw

Claims of sexism and bullying of women players have been made against the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

A former general manager of women’s rugby at the WRU, Charlotte Wathan, has alleged that a male employee said that he wanted to rape her and everyone just laughed.

Another unnamed former WRU female employee has also left alleging that she was the subject of sexism and bullying by a manager of the WRU and stated that she wrote a manual for her husband in case she took her own life.

Welsh MP, Tonia Antoniazzi, a former Wales rugby international player, has written to the Prince of Wales, Patron of the WRU, requesting a meeting with him to “create a better future for women and girls in rugby in Wales.”

The WRU has stated that it takes any allegations made by employees concerning behaviour, attitude and language seriously and that such behaviour has no place in the WRU or Welsh rugby.

The WRU has also expressed its commitment to the women’s game and, last year, gave Wales women players professional contracts for the first time.

Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.’