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Ben James

Nigel Walker makes bid to keep WRU job as regions to get new money within days

Welsh Rugby Union interim chief executive Nigel Walker says the four professional sides in Wales will receive the first instalment of money from the new Professional Rugby Agreement within the coming days.

The regions have been waiting on payment since March, when a new six-year framework between the WRU and the regions was agreed.

At the time of the new PRA being signed, it was announced that some key features would be "reliant on certain external approvals related to existing loan arrangements", with that approval being required from organisations including the Welsh Government.

The time taken to secure that approval and the first instalment of payment has put added stress on the regions, with Cardiff Rugby chief executive Richard Holland expressing his frustrations last month amid "cashflow pressures".

However, Walker now insists that the first instalment is iminent, admitting it has taken too long to reach this point.

"Single figure days," said Walker on the Scrum V Podcast when asked when the regions will receive the money. "It's taken way too long, but when the press release went out, it pointed to the fact that because the loans that were in place, you have to have consent to change them and that takes time.

"Everyone was aware it was going to take time. Again, it's taken longer than we would have liked, but you have to go through the process. We're at the end of that process."

Walker also admitted that the appointment of an independent chair was close.

Once a new chair has been named, the process of finding a new CEO and Independent Non-Executive Directors can also be resolved. Walker stepped into the role on an interim basis following Steve Phillips' resignation earlier this year, having previously served as performance director at the WRU.

Walker has long been understood to be in the running for the job on a full-time basis, with the former Wales wing confirming that he had applied.

He also took the opportunity on the podcast to briefly outline his vision for the game in Wales.

"I have applied," said Walker. "I don't think this is the place to make that pitch, but I do have a vision for Welsh rugby.

"If I am called for an interview, as I don't know if I'll be called for one, I'll make that pitch. Welsh rugby has been through a difficult time.

"There are still some difficult times ahead. But I speak to Warren on a regular basis and heard what he says today, I'm excited for what we can do in the World Cup. I'm not talking about winning it or anything like that, I'm talking about us performing with distinction and making the whole nation proud.

Poll: How far will Wales go at the World Cup? Have your say here or below

"Off the back of that, we can then begin to build Welsh rugby to the state we'd want it to be, from the bottom up. From the bottom being those six and seven-year-old boys and girls picking up a ball for the first time, right the way through the pathway as we're doing a lot of work on academies and pathways in the men's and women's games, right through to representative rugby at under-18, under-20 and the senior team. Wrapped all around that will be good governance."

Walker also expanded on his comments last week about the game in Wales not being "broken", but rather in need of a "reset".

Those comments were made at a Welsh Affairs Select Committee (WASC) hearing at Westminster, in response to a question posed by WASC chairman Stephen Crabb.

"It's a reset of Welsh rugby," he added. "It's not a reset of the Welsh Rugby Union or a reset of the regions.

"Certainly the conversations I've had with the regions recently have been very positive. We're getting together very, very shortly - Union, regions, other people - to talk about what success will look like and the part we can each play in it.

"We all want to be successful. The national team won't be successful unless we provide the platform for the regions to be successful. We all need to work together."

READ MORE:

The new rugby trends you'll see at the World Cup as a 'new set-piece' emerges

'More players, better players' - The radical WRU shake-up to save rugby in Wales revealed

The full list of English rugby's released stars now looking for new clubs as seven Welshmen become available

What's happening with the 53 players who left the Welsh regions this summer as a third remain in limbo

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