Technically, Cardiff’s players could walk away from their contracts after the WRU takeover
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt is confident no players will leave the club as a result of their Welsh Rugby Union takeover last week.
The WRU took over control of the Blue and Blacks last Wednesday after they were temporarily placed into administration by their directors after owners Helford Capital failed to provide the level of funding they were contractually obligated to do. While the WRU’s takeover means their short-term future is stable, it did open the possibility that players could leave the club if they so wished.
As has been the case with other clubs that have gone into administration, players could feasibly have voided their contracts – something WRU CEO Abi Tierney acknowledged in a lengthy press conference last week.
In the aftermath of Cardiff’s takeover, other Welsh clubs were understood to have already asked the WRU about whether they could sign Cardiff players.
All of Cardiff’s playing group were given a letter to sign that would see them acknowledge the transfer of their contract from Cardiff Rugby Limited to the WRU’s new subsidiary. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
The deadline to sign that was Monday evening, with it understood that not all players had signed by that point. However, Sherratt remains confident that no player will leave as a result of last week’s events.
“No, I don’t think so,” said the Cardiff head coach. “For the first reason, I think the players that are here are happy here.
“I’ve tried to make Cardiff an enjoyable place to play rugby. I want players who have a connection to the club and the city, and want to play for a club with the history we’ve got here.
“Hopefully all the players here have an attachment to the club. So that hopefully keeps them anyway. And then, if I’m honest contractually, I wouldn’t know the detail of whether they’re in contract or not.
“From the conversations I’ve had with the club, once they’ve TUPE’d across, their contract is the same as before we went into administration. But I’m not a lawyer, so don’t hold me to that.”
The letter given to players last week outlined the changes of their employment particulars, explaining that, after Cardiff Rugby Limited was transferred to Welsh Rugby Players Limited (the “Company”), they automatically became employees of the Company by virtue of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations.
It also detailed the transfer of data and other technicalities, with players having until Monday, April 14, to sign the letter and confirmed their understanding and agreement.
In theory, signing that letter would have tied them legally to the new subsidiary. The club have been boosted by the announcement of a new deal for Josh Adams.
The Wales wing had penned the terms prior to Cardiff going into administration, with Sherratt admitting that it was a strong statement to keep hold of the 29-year-old after last week’s uncertainty.
“There have been a lot of players who have left Welsh rugby,” he said. “To keep someone who is a British Lion, who has 50 or 60 caps, it was a statement signing for the club.
“After the last 10 days, it reaffirms that we’re here to stay.”
