Welsh district Central Glamorgan Rugby Union also want the majority of WRU board positions to become unpaid, as part of a wider challenge to the current leadership.
The district have written to clubs across Wales urging them to support an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), which would allow members to debate a package of motions including a vote of no confidence in WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood and Professional Rugby Board chair Malcolm Wall.
The district argues that excessive reliance on consultants has drained resources that should instead be supporting the professional, Super Rygbi Cymru, women’s and community games, and believes much of that expertise already exists within Wales.
It is also proposing that, aside from the WRU chief executive, WRU chair and PRB chair, all other board roles should be unpaid.
In a letter circulated to clubs, Central Glamorgan Rugby Union says:
"This new structure of leadership within the WRU has been in place for more than two years.
"While we acknowledge that the situation on the back of Covid has been challenging, we're deeply concerned the current leadership have not been able to formulate and commence the delivery of a plan that sets our game in Wales on the right track to support the professional, SRC [Super Rygbi Cymru], female and community game.
"Instead, we see the meandering between different versions of a plan, causing chaos, confusion and uncertainty, spending extortionate amounts of money on external consultants, combined with the current board's inability to define and deliver a clear strategy for rugby in Wales.
"This is causing reputational damage to Welsh rugby across the world when we were once held in such high esteem."
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Central Glamorgan Rugby Union represents clubs across Neath, Port Talbot, Maesteg and Bridgend and is one of nine districts that collectively make up the WRU.
Around 30 of Wales’ nearly 300 clubs would be required to back the proposal in order to reach the 10% threshold needed to force an EGM.
The district is proposing three formal motions.
The first would be a vote of no confidence in Collier-Keywood and Wall, which would require a simple majority to pass.
The second calls for elections for the four elected WRU board positions within 14 days of any EGM, again requiring more than 50% support.
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The third seeks changes to how WRU district and council members are elected and would need a 75% majority.
Alongside those motions, Central Glamorgan Rugby Union has put forward a series of recommendations.
These include an immediate pause on changes to the professional game structure, alongside a full review of WRU finances and organisational arrangements to identify savings in areas such as executive pay, board remuneration and consultant fees.
The district has also proposed the creation of a rugby steering group made up of representatives from the professional, SRC and community game, as well as the business sector, which it believes would reduce the need for costly external advisers.
A centrally run national academy for male and female players is also being recommended.
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The letter adds:
"If the people paid to do the job have to use consultants to guide them, it begs the question if we have the right personnel in those roles', adding 'there are experienced people within Wales who understand the rugby landscape and would willingly offer their time'."
Central Glamorgan Rugby Union says clubs must now take responsibility for holding the governing body to account:
"We feel strongly we as clubs and shareholders need to hold the WRU to account and the only mechanism that we have to do that at this moment in time is via an extraordinary general meeting.
"To call an EGM, we require a minimum of 10% of voting members to support the call for such a meeting.
"However, we would like to send a stronger message and would therefore encourage clubs to canvass the opinions of their members to get as many member clubs as possible to agree change is needed in accordance with the motions we are putting forward."
The push comes two years after clubs overwhelmingly backed governance reforms at an EGM in 2023, which led to a reshaped board and the appointment of the WRU’s first independent chair.
Collier-Keywood took up his role in July 2023, but Central Glamorgan Rugby Union believes progress since then has fallen short.
The WRU published its latest strategy for the elite game in October, including proposals to reduce the number of men’s professional sides from four to three.
However, agreement has yet to be reached, with further discussions expected in the coming weeks.
Clubs had the opportunity to question WRU officials at November’s AGM, but only one question relating to the professional game was raised.
In response, the WRU confirmed it is aware of the correspondence.
Chief executive Abi Tierney said: "The Welsh Rugby Union has a clear governance process in place for these sorts of matters, as set out in our constitution, and we will continue to engage fully with our member clubs to follow that process.
"At this point, we have not received any formal trigger required to call an extraordinary general meeting under our articles of association."
Tierney added: "We published our plans for the future of the elite game in Wales at the end of October 2025, following an extensive consultation process.
"We are now focused on rolling out that plan and are working with key stakeholders to agree a consensus on the implementation."
She said the WRU remains confident progress can be made soon: "Detailed work is underway with the professional clubs, the United Rugby Championship and player representatives, and we remain committed to reaching consensus on the next steps in the coming weeks.
"We ask all stakeholders to work with us. We recognise that change is challenging, but it is essential for the long-term health of the game in Wales."
