…By Alan Peterson for TDPel Media.
Influential WRU board member Henry Engelhardt has voiced his criticism of a bombshell BBC investigation that accused the Union of sexism, misogyny, and fostering a toxic culture.
Engelhardt accuses the BBC of sensationalism and not listening, while the BBC Wales stands by the accuracy of its investigation.
Engelhardt’s Critique of the BBC Investigation:
Engelhardt claims that the programme makers showed disinterest when the WRU discussed various allegations with them.
He believes that the portrayal of the allegations in the programme was inaccurate and exaggerated, making the situation seem worse than it actually was.
According to Engelhardt, both the WRU and the BBC share responsibility for the misrepresentation.
Allegations Made in the Programme:
The programme featured allegations made by Charlotte Wathan, former general manager for women’s rugby at the WRU.
Wathan claimed that a male colleague joked about wanting to “rape” her, and although a senior manager witnessed the comment, no action was taken.
Other allegations included instances of bullying and the use of a racist term in a work meeting.
Former board member Amanda Blanc also revealed facing sexism before resigning in 2021.
WRU Response and Settlement:
The WRU previously hired an external legal expert to investigate Wathan’s grievance.
The investigation found the claims to be unsubstantiated, meaning they couldn’t be proven true or false.
The union stated that the man accused of making the comment was eventually interviewed.
Wathan and the WRU reached an amicable settlement before the programme aired, following an employment tribunal.
External Investigation and Review:
An external taskforce, led by former Court of Appeal Judge Dame Anne Rafferty, is currently conducting an investigation into the WRU.
This investigation was initiated by the former staff members’ initial allegations.
The review aims to examine the culture within the WRU, leadership actions and behavior, the response to complaints, employee concerns, and the effectiveness of the whistleblowing policy.
The final report is expected within the next three months.
Engelhardt’s Role and Governance Reform:
Engelhardt serves as an independent director on the WRU board and has advocated for governance reform within the Union.
Recently, the WRU implemented changes, including the appointment of an independent chair and a new permanent CEO.
Engelhardt is reportedly involved in the recruitment process for the CEO position.
The previous CEO, Steve Phillips, resigned due to the public fallout from the allegations.
BBC’s Response and MP’s Perspective:
The BBC stands by the accuracy and robustness of its journalism in the BBC Wales Investigates programme.
MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who participated in the programme, dismissed Engelhardt’s critique and emphasized that the allegations of misogyny and sexism were only the tip of the iceberg, as many women were too afraid to come forward.
Conclusion:
The criticism from influential WRU board member Henry Engelhardt against the BBC investigation has brought attention to the allegations of sexism, misogyny, and a toxic culture within the Union.
The ongoing external investigation aims to uncover the truth and evaluate the WRU’s handling of the allegations.
The final report is expected to shed light on the situation and will be made public by the Union.