Six Nations Rugby Games

Part of 3. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:13 pm on 4 March 2020.

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Photo of Andrew RT Davies Andrew RT Davies Conservative 3:13, 4 March 2020

As someone who believes that rugby, international rugby, should be on a free-to-view basis and who doesn't own a satellite tv, and never has owned a satellite dish, I do regret the position that the home unions find themselves in. But I accept that it is a professional game now, and, for those proponents who want to keep it on free to view, there does have to be an argument put where the revenues will be found to make sure that the Welsh grass-roots game can remain competitive and keep players here in Wales. And that's the invidious situation that the WRU and other unions find themselves in.

I asked you a question about the support of the union some months ago on a topical basis, Minister, and you indicated that work was under way between yourself and the unions to try and identify funding streams that might come in and alleviate some of the funding pressures at a regional level. Are you in a position today to give some of that information of the meetings that you've had to try and identify streams where Welsh Government might be helpful in making revenues available to the union that will take the pressure off pay-per-view tv? Because, ultimately, the union has to make its books balance and make sure that players' wages and stadium infrastructure is improved.