TLT acts for administrators appointed to rescue Cardiff Rugby Club

National law firm TLT has advised administrators from PwC on the sale of 150-year-old Cardiff Rugby Club to the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The deal has rescued one of the UK’s most iconic rugby clubs and is a testament to TLT’s expertise in sport restructurings.

Cardiff Rugby Club was founded in 1876 and is one of the oldest and largest rugby clubs in Wales, playing in the iconic Cardiff Arms Park stadium.

Professional services firm PwC have been appointed to handle the administration after the club's previous owner was unable to meet its contractual funding obligations.

The acquisition by the WRU will save the club, ensuring it can continue to honour its fixtures across multiple competitions and preserve the jobs of staff and players. It will also support the growth of the WRU.

TLT advised the administrators on all aspects of the administration including the sale enabling the business and assets of Cardiff Rugby Club to be transferred to WRU. The team was led by partner and national head of restructuring and insolvency James Forsyth, with support from senior associate Megan Elms, trainee Georgia King, legal director Piers Warne and partners Abigail Hadfield and Phil Collis.

James Forsyth, partner and national head of restructuring and insolvency at TLT said: ‚ÄúWe were delighted to be able to play our part in the rescue of Cardiff Rugby Club, a club with a long and proud history and a passionate supporter base. All those involved with the transaction needed to act quickly and collaboratively to ensure Cardiff Rugby Club was given the opportunity to continue to operate and flourish.

“This transaction demonstrates TLT’s strength and depth of commercial and technical expertise including restructuring and insolvency, real estate and licensing. It also required sensitive management of various stakeholder interests and was executed under tight time pressures, highlighting TLT’s position as a 1st tier adviser.”