It had been six days since several women had denounced the sexist culture reigning in the Welsh Rugby Federation (WRU). Charlotte Wathan, director of women’s rugby, had testified to the sexist words and behavior of which she was the victim, in a BBC program: “A man at Welsh training center Glamorgan in 2019 said he wanted to rape me. Take me back to the hotel, tie me to the bed and rape me. I remember getting sick from it, like after being punched in the stomach. I remember being in shock and thinking “did I really hear that?” », she said.
“It’s time for someone else to show the way”
Under this pressure, Steve Phillips, the general manager, resigned. A news made official by the WRU this Sunday: “Phillips attended the meeting on setting up a working group” announced on Friday to investigate sexist, racist or homophobic behavior within the federation, “but he has since come to the conclusion that he can no longer be the person at the helm of Welsh rugby.”
The director was not the subject of any charges but he explains that he arrived “to the conclusion that it is now time for someone else to show the way”. Nigel Walker, hitherto director of performance, has been appointed interim general manager.
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