The WRU commissioned the portrait of its patron to go on public display at the Millennium Stadium Credit: WRU
A new portrait of the Queen, entitled 'ICON' has been unveiled by First Minister Carwyn Jones.
The WRU commissioned Cardiff-born artist Dan Llywelyn Hall to paint the piece to go on public display at the Millennium Stadium.
The portrait was produced to mark the 60th anniversary of the coronation.
WRU chief executive Roger Lewis said: "The portrait will have pride of place at the Millennium Stadium and we are very much looking forward to sharing it with the many hundreds of thousands of visitors we attract to the Welsh capital each year."
Dan Llywelyn Hall was commissioned to paint the portrait to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen's coronation Credit: WRU
The painting will be on public display at the home of Welsh rugby. Credit: Joe Giddens/PA Wire
A new portrait of the Queen is set to be unveiled in Cardiff today. The WRU-commissioned painting has been created by Cardiff-born artist Dan Llywelyn Hall, who has previously produced portraits of First World War veterans Henry Allingham and Harry Patch.
First Minister Carwyn Jones will unveil the portrait, which will be placed on public display in the Millennium Stadium.
George North is the latest in a series of big-name Wales players to have left the regions behind. Credit: PA
The Welsh Rugby Union and representatives from Wales' four regional sides are meeting this evening to try to put behind them their recent public row over the future of the game.
The regions have decided to take up the union's offer to attend their monthly board meeting tonight, despite initially stating they would decline the invitation.
Both sides have refused to comment today.
The relationship between the WRU and the regions disintegrated at the end of last month, when the WRU accused the Scarlets of trying to transfer star winger George North without his knowledge.
North has since secured a move to English Premiership side Northampton.
Wales international Adam Jones has tweeted to criticise the WRU for banning a referee following a comment made on the social networking site.
Adam Jones said that "maybe If the WRU worried about themselves and the regions sorting their c**p out and not banning a ref for tweeting we may get somewhere!"
Hugh Watkins resigned live on the BBC's Scrum V programme after he was banned for 12 weeks after he questioned the decision by the referee in the Hong Kong Sevens final between Wales and Fiji not to show a red card for a dangerous tackle.
Sorry that's a shocker. Had to be red no other option. We need referees to be consistent in this area.
WRU: We hope talks can be held 'around the board table'
The WRU say that they hope that discussions with Regional Rugby Wales can be held 'around the board table.'
Their statement comes after the body that represents the four Welsh rugby regions said they would not attend talks with the WRU.
The WRU welcomes the desire of the Regional Organisations to continue discussions on how best to secure a winning future for professional rugby in Wales and retain the best Welsh talent.
The WRU will outline, to the four Regional Organisations, a strategy for the professional game in Wales and would welcome input from all four Regional organisations.
The Board of the WRU, for the third time, offers the four Regional Organisations the opportunity to address them.
The group that represents the four Welsh rugby regions has pulled out of talks with the WRU. Speaking at a press conference in Cardiff, Stuart Gallagher from Regional Rugby Wales said that he was embarrassed by the propaganda coming from the WRU.
Gallagher said that they had now decided not to go to talks with the Welsh Rugby Union as 'communication has broken down.'
He said that the body was now looking to take the disagreement with the WRU to independent arbitration.
The Welsh Rugby Union say they are hoping to meet with representatives of the four regions at their next board meeting to diffuse the ongoing rows over the future of the game.
Both the union and the regions have released public statements over the past few days accusing each other of mishandling discussions over who should employ Welsh internationals. A matter neither seem able to agree on.
WRU welcomes regions' chance to discuss 'issues related to their progress'
The Welsh Rugby Union says it is delighted that the four regions have sought to attend a meeting of the Union's board to "discuss issues related to their progress and development."
They said they invited them earlier this year to "present to the board of the WRU on a range of issues."
The WRU has not received confirmation of the Regions’ desire to attend the next full board meeting but looks forward to doing so and will ensure the attendance is confirmed on the prepared agenda.
The Welsh Rugby Union has called for talks with our four professional regions over central contracts for players.
It comes after the clubs rejected claims by the union over the weekend, which included the suggestion the Scarlets held transfer talks over winger George North without him knowing.
The WRU asks the four regional organisations to put aside their agreement not to play centrally contracted players and work with the Union to help secure the future of our young players in Wales.
– Statement from the WRU
The union will write to the Blues, Ospreys, Scarlets and Dragons today.
