The WRU have drawn up an action plan to support rugby clubs around Wales affected by Storm Dennis, setting the ball rolling with a £100,000 fighting fund.
A number of clubs were seriously affected by flooding caused by the storm, including the likes of Bedwas, Blackwood, Cross Keys, Rumney and Newport HSOB.
There have been dramatic images of the extent of the damage, both with flooded pitches and wrecked clubhouses.
Now the WRU have moved to address the situation.
After a meeting of the community rugby board on Tuesday, the Union’s staff have been working to assess the impact of the storm around the country and have devised a plan to provide both help and funding to impacted clubs.
An “exceptional circumstances” fund has been established, with the Union earmarking £100,000 to kick-start the provision, while also seeking further support.
Additional funds will be raised by a bucket collection during Wales’ Six Nations match against France at the Principality Stadium on Saturday and a range of other resources are currently being sourced.
Some clubs have informed the WRU they have lost rugby equipment and the Union are taking steps to help on this front, alongside providing specialist expertise to the task of recovering and maintaining damaged pitches.
Chief executive Martyn Phillips said: "These are exceptional circumstances and we have therefore decided to allocate dedicated funds and resources to help out rugby clubs in need in communities throughout the country.
"There is money put aside for emergencies such as these and we will take great care to ensure that we target both money and resources in the right areas so that we are helping those who need it most."
The Union will also be providing further practical help with staff members pledging to spend a full working day at affected clubs, to help out in any way they can.
The governing body will continue to monitor the situation in the days and months ahead as part of a long term strategy to support rugby communities around Wales.
