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EspañolWelsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Abi Tierney says she does not feel safe while carrying out her role after being subjected to social media "hate speech".
Tierney returned to fully resume her leadership position in January after undergoing medical treatment following a cancer diagnosis.
Tierney came back at a toxic time in Welsh rugby. The WRU announced in October it planned to reduce the number of professional men's sides in Wales from four to three.
The governing body has also announced Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, are the preferred bidder to take over Cardiff, who the WRU has owned since April 2025.
This has caused concern for Ospreys' fans and players that their region will be the professional side cut, with guarantees only given until the summer of 2027.
WRU bosses said earlier this month certain individuals have been subjected to social media abuse and Tierney has now revealed the extent in a WRU podcast.
'It is a horrible feeling'
"On a personal level, I don't feel safe at the moment and that is a horrible feeling," said Tierney.
"My children and my parents find it hard, especially my dad who has been a lifelong passionate supporter of Welsh rugby.
"I am not trying to personalise this because I do this job because I believe in it and love it.
"It is not what I want to talk about. I do this job and I have to take that [social media abuse] as part of it."
Tierney has chosen to do her first interview in a long time with the WRU in-house podcast where it was claimed no questions were barred.
Neither Tierney, chair Richard Collier-Keywood or director of rugby Dave Reddin have spoken publicly to the media since December with the BBC repeatedly requesting interviews with the WRU trio.
Collier-Keywood and Tierney have spoken at committee hearings in Parliament and the Senedd in front of Welsh politicians.
The WRU chief executive boss gave a stark example of the abuse she is facing online.
"A couple of weekends ago somebody put out an AI [artificial intelligence] image [of Tierney] in Nazi clothing," said Tierney.
"That is hate speech. I don't thing that's ok and it is not what the Welsh rugby family is about and we should not be making people feel unsafe.
"The social media aspect is hard. Challenge and ask me questions, I am happy to do that, but this is too far."
Tierney was asked what message she would give to the "keyboard warriors" which she says is also harming Welsh rugby's future with the impact it has on players, the ability to sell tickets and attract sponsors.
"Forget about me and whether you agree with or like me," she said.
"Think about Welsh rugby and its future and our ability to invest in the game at all levels.
"Let's pull together and get through this. It is an absolute privilege to do this job but we are making things even harder by the negativity and hate that is out there."
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Short-term pain for long-term gain
Tierney says she can understand the emotion about the WRU's decision to cut a side.
"I understand if you were going to make this decision, it was always going to come with a huge amount of disappointment, hurt and anger," said Tierney.
"When we did the consultation when we were just talking about the number of clubs, that was ok.
"It was only when the decision was being taken on which club that it might be [that gets cut] becomes very difficult.
"We have not made that decision yet but that's when it becomes hard.
"Did we understand the ramifications? Absolutely yes. Do we believe this is the way to ensure Welsh rugby is sustainable in the longer term? Yes.
"We have difficult short-term pain but it will end up with Welsh rugby being more sustainable.
"If we don't do this now we will continue to have clubs that struggle to perform, not be able to get the investment and maybe facing a similar outcome to Cardiff and we are going to have players continuing to want to go to England.
"So you have to do something different."
'It will get better because of the changes'
Tierney, Collier-Keywood and Reddin have been at the heart of the plans for change, although they say all decisions have been given unanimous backing by the board.
The trio have been viewed as three English people who do not have the best interests of Welsh rugby at heart, which Tierney dismisses.
"Some of the criticism is that I come from England, but I live in Wales, I consider myself Welsh, I have been a Welsh rugby supporter since I was tiny," said Tierney.
"So I do think I understand Welsh culture. I am not here for the short-term and will take responsibility.
"I ask myself every day is this in the best interest of Welsh rugby as a whole.
"As the WRU chief executive, I have to look at the whole system, not make decisions on what is best for individual parts of that system."
Tierney stated the current system is not working.
"It is failing and it is going to continue to fail unless we do something different," she said.
"The consensus coming out of the consultation we staged was we needed to change and that is when the difficult decisions have to be made.
"You have to take them with integrity and the courage of your conviction."
Tierney says she believes the WRU plans will improve Welsh rugby in the near future.
"I would not be doing it if I wasn't confident but it's probably going to get harder before it gets easier," said Tierney.
"I don't do this job because it's easy but I believe we will be in a better and more sustainable place. I know it will be because of the changes we make.
"I am here as a custodian and want to leave a positive legacy and make sure we are continuing to celebrate Welsh rugby for another 150 years.
"So it will get better."