He announced he was quitting at a meeting on Monday

Former Wales international Anthony Buchanan has resigned from the Welsh Rugby Union council after losing confidence in the governing body’s plans.

Buchanan is heavily respected not only within Wales but in world rugby circles having previously held a number of senior positions in Welsh rugby. In a WRU council meeting on Monday Buchanan announced his resignation with a year left on his term having lost faith in the governing body’s long-term plans.

WalesOnline understands there are a significant number of clubs who are equally as unhappy about the direction of travel, with an extraordinary general meeting a possibility.

In order to call an EGM 36 clubs would need to be in agreement and for a special resolution to pass it would need 75% of clubs to vote in favour at the meeting, which is a big ask.

The WRU are pushing forward with radical plans to restructure the professional game with a reduction from four to three regions in the pipeline.

They want one team in Cardiff, one in the east and one in the west. As a result they have pitted the Ospreys and the Scarlets against each other, with one side likely to disappear over the next couple of years.

There is agreement across the board that change needs to happen given the wretched state of the men’s national side but there are many within the game who do not agree with the WRU’s solution.

The WRU council – which sits below the executive board – is responsible for setting the strategy for community rugby in Wales and compromises five national council members along with 14 district council members, elected by member clubs.

WalesOnline understands that many member clubs have lost confidence in leading figures on the WRU’s executive board.

There is also discontent at the amount of money that has been spent on external consultants and there has also been suggestions the WRU council should hold fresh elections for the four club positions on the executive board.

If an EGM is called any director other than the CEO must resign from the board if members pass a resolution of no confidence in that director.

In the event a resolution is passed against all directors the members present at the meeting will elect an interim board of directors.

But despite the unrest within the member clubs this is a very long shot because it would require 75% of member clubs to vote in favour.

A veteran of the business world, Buchanan is a retired company director and the current chairman of Llanelli Rugby Club.

Buchanan first served as a WRU Board and Council Member from 2014 before standing down in 2019, when he was replaced by Liza Burgess.

The former Wales prop also worked with Llanelli RFC as team manager for a number of years and later with the Scarlets in identifying young talent.

Buchanan’s resignation is a big blow for the WRU given his experience and the fact he is a powerful voice who is heavily respected.

“We can confirm the WRU Board has accepted the resignation of Council member Anthony Buchanan,” said a WRU statement.

“The WRU will now run a new election process to replace Buchanan as Nationally elected Council member and will write to clubs to appeal for nominations shortly.

“We thank Anthony for his many years of service to Welsh rugby, formerly as a member of our Board, more recently as an active member of our Council, but also for his dedication to the Scarlets.”