WRU chief executive Abi Tierney

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The WRU appointed Abi Tierney as its first female chief executive in 2023

The fresh agreement replaces the previous six-year deal signed in 2023, coming amid fears Wales' professional sides would go bust.

It saw the introduction of salary caps with budgets slashed from £7.2m to the current £4.5m.

Those are now set to be boosted – albeit incrementally – if regional boards vote through the proposals agreed by the PRB.

Full details have not been disclosed but it has been previously reported the WRU would wipe some of the regions' debts to the governing body in exchange for greater control, and even a non-equity stake.

But there will be an expectancy for the regions to financially get their houses in order.

Speaking at a fans' forum on Thursday night, Dragons chair David Wright suggested the deal would see the regions ensuring their kept their finances in the black each season, with owners required to cover any shortfalls.

But a statement confirming the end of the ime did state that the WRU would be more hands on with development, while a 'shared services' scheme would allow a pooling of resources.

"The settlement with the clubs is part of a whole game approach which is already seeing advancing improvements to the pathways which senior men's rugby in Wales," added Wall.

"This includes the installation of new academy licences at professional club level, the raising of standards in the new Super Rygbi Cymru competition, which sits underneath the professional teams, and greater collaboration across the game with national coaches sharing ideas and strategy and staging skills clinics for new and emerging talent."

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