'Toxic' Welsh Rugby Union is accused of sexism, racism and homophobia

‘Toxic’ Welsh Rugby Union is accused of sexism, racism and homophobia as ex-boss reveals she ‘considered suicide’ after colleague ‘said he wanted to rape her’

• Investigation into the Welsh Rugby Union has unearthed number of allegations
• Most shocking is one worker saying in front of others he wanted to ‘rape’ another

The Welsh Rugby Union faces claims a toxic sexism and discrimination culture after a series of concerning incidents including one employee declaring he wanted to ‘rape’ another.

A number of ex-WRU employees have taken part in an investigation making accusations about their time at the governing body.

Charlotte Wathan, general manager of women’s rugby until her resignation last February, claims the offensive comments by a colleague left her in tears and feeling sick.

Another unnamed contributor says she was left contemplating suicide by her experiences of bullying and sexism at work.

Charlotte Wathan, was general manager of women’s rugby until her resignation last February

The Welsh Rugby Union faces claims a toxic sexism and discrimination culture in investigation

The allegations are aired in a BBC Wales Investigates programme, which also features claims of racism and homophobia.

Another former female WRU employee, a mum of one, said she wrote a manual for her husband in case she killed herself.

They have left MP and former Wales international Tonia Antoniazzi expressing ‘great concerns’ over the women’s game in the country.

The WRU said that an ‘amicable resolution’ had been reached with Wathan ‘satisfying both parties’ following an investigation by an external law firm. It said a confidentiality agreement between the parties prevented further details.

MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who once played for Wales as prop, said she was concerned about claims

It noted that another of the complaints had been investigated and subsequently withdrawn, while new information included in the broadcast would be ‘followed up and acted upon’.

A spokesperson said: ‘The Welsh Rugby Union condemns the use of racist, homophobic or sexist language and states in the strongest possible terms that racism, homophobic, sexist or bullying behaviour has no place in Welsh rugby.’

A statement continued: ‘It is vitally important to note that we have a duty of care as employers to both the complainants and those complained against.

‘That duty of care continues and we are deeply concerned about the effect of this programme on those individuals in respect of the fact the allegations described remain unsubstantiated following a thorough independent legal investigation.’

But Antoniazzi, who once played for Wales as a prop and now represents the Gower constituency and serves as Labour’s shadow Northern Ireland minister, remains concerned by the testimony.

She likened the evidence to the racism scandal which hit cricket following Azeem Rafiq’s allegations against Yorkshire, and believes an independent body may be needed to hold sporting institutions in Wales to account.

‘This is on a level of what’s happened in cricket. I have great, great concerns about the future of women’s rugby in Wales,’ she told the BBC.

‘There has to be an independent body set up to look at complaints of… all complaints when there are issues within governing bodies, sporting governing bodies in Wales. There needs to be somewhere to go.’

Responding to those comments, the WRU said: ‘With respect to the comments made by Tonia Antoniazzi MP, the WRU invites the Labour MP for Gower to make direct contact on the issues she raises and would welcome the opportunity to discuss her concerns.’

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