By Zippy
October 13 2004

Former Warriors Chief Executive Leighton Samuels has started legal proceedings against the WRU seeking to expose wrongdoings involved in the sale, for details read on LEIGHTON SAMUEL, the former Celtic Warriors backer, last night launched an action in the High Court against the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) over the regional team’s demise. The writ seeks six-figure compensation for losses it claims were suffered by Bridgend RFC, which Samuel backs, as a result of Welsh rugby’s professional tier being cut from five teams to four. The Warriors’ squad were disbanded in the summer.

In addition, Samuel is seeking repayment of £100,000 that he says is owed to his company, Decor Frame, which last season bought Pontypridd’s share of the Warriors and handed it to the WRU on the understanding that it would be repaid. Samuel’s case will rest on his assertion that the Warriors were not, as David Moffett, the WRU chief executive, has stated, insolvent when the governing body took them over.

“[Moffett] misled the WRU board in their meeting on May 17,” Samuel said. “He asserted there, in public and to our local MP [Hugh Irranca-Davies] that the Warriors were insolvent. The WRU legal representative, John Morris, who had examined the Warriors’ finances, told us otherwise four business days before that WRU board meeting and we have witness statements to that effect.”

The WRU issued a statement that read: “The Welsh Rugby Union can confirm that Bridgend RFC and Decor Frame have commenced legal proceedings against the WRU. The WRU has no further comment to make at this stage.”

Zippy Reaction

So here is the last throw of the Warriors dice, the main hope has to be that LS wins the court case and Moffet is forced to resign, this appears unlikely but the case may cause a stir and cause several heads to role in the WRU.

Do you agree with me? Have your say on the messageboard.