Incoming WRU chair Lyndon Faulkner to review plan to cut Welsh region

Incoming Welsh Rugby Union chair Lyndon Faulkner will review the plan to cut one of Wales' four professional regions, saying he is willing to reconsider the decision rather than simply oversee its implementation. In his first interview since accepting the position, reported by BBC Sport, Faulkner also identified the union's finances as an early priority before formally starting work next month.

The existing proposal would reduce the number of regions from four to three in 2028. Faulkner rejected suggestions that accepting the chairmanship required him to leave that policy unchallenged. He said his responsibility was to examine the union's activities and question decisions where his experience could help. Asked whether he would be prepared to reverse the regional cut, he said he would, although he has not announced any change to the plan.

Ospreys and Scarlets are the two sides most threatened with closure, according to the BBC report. Faulkner acknowledged their distrust and the emotional weight of the regions' histories. He also said the process had already taken too long and wanted his review to avoid extending the uncertainty. His position therefore opens the decision to further scrutiny without settling how many professional teams Wales will retain.

The union's financial position will form another major part of his work. Faulkner said he had not known the full extent of the WRU's debt until its announcement last week and was surprised by the £18m loss reported for the latest financial year. He said improvements in costs and revenue were needed to ensure money could reach the areas requiring investment.

Faulkner will chair the board but will not join the WRU executive team. The BBC reported that, while he will not make the final decisions, the role gives him considerable influence. He broadly supported the union's decision to rescue Cardiff and expressed enthusiasm for a possible Anglo-Welsh competition, drawing on his own playing experience with Pontypool in the 1980s.

The 66-year-old former centre moved into business after a knee injury ended his playing career. He worked for and later owned Welsh technology company Nimbus, and subsequently helped launch Xbox and Microsoft Office. Faulkner said his motivation for taking the WRU role was to help Welsh rugby, combining his commercial experience with an understanding of the game as a former player.