Six Nations Rugby Games

Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:15 pm on 4 March 2020.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas Independent 3:15, 4 March 2020

I'm very grateful to you for setting out the dilemma that this poses for the rugby governing bodies and, of course, to us as a Government. In responding to you earlier on this matter, I think I must have pointed out that our funding finds its way to governing bodies through the offices of the sports council, and on the advice of the sports council I would be reluctant to look for a way of supporting any of the 45, maybe, governing bodies of different sports that we have in a way that did not relate to the advice that we get from the sports council.

But, in response to your question, I can say that I'm waiting to see the results of the present process. I think it is essential for us, if we can find agreement in this Assembly on a way forward, to make our views clearly known. The suggestion was made earlier that this might be a very useful thing for us to have a debate on, and if that were to happen—I can't speak for the Trefnydd or for Government business managers—I as a Minister would welcome a debate on this matter and for this Assembly to come to a resolution on this issue, which would then be the considered judgment of this Assembly.