WRU announces new executive team and begins cost saving programme
The organisation in charge of rugby union in Wales will now be led by a team of five people
Wales Rugby Union's Chief Executive Officer has announced a streamlining of the organisation's executive team.
It'll now comprise of five people, instead of up to nine.
The WRU has also begun what's been described as a cost saving and efficiency programme.
This announcement has been made a day before Wales visit France in the opening match of this year's Six Nations.
The WRU's Executive Team
The new executive leadership team consists of five roles, where previously there were up to nine individuals, and will include a new Chief Growth Officer, a Chief Operating Officer, the Chief People Officer, a Director of Professional Rugby and a Director of the Community Game.
Two of the roles are actively being recruited for, including a global search for a Chief Growth Officer and a Director of Rugby, both keystone appointments in implementing Welsh rugby’s new headline ‘One Wales’ strategy launched last summer.
The current People Director, Lydia Stirling, will become Chief People Officer, with the WRU’s Governance function now reporting into this role. The role of Chief Financial Officer Leighton Davies also evolves, to become Chief Operating Officer, taking added responsibility for all operational aspects of the business, including Principality Stadium, the WRU legal team and Company Secretary duties.
Following the departure of Nigel Walker as executive director of rugby in December 2024, executive responsibilities for the professional and community games in Wales are currently split between interim performance director, Huw Bevan and the incumbent community director Geraint John.
There will no longer be a commercial and legal director role within the Executive team.
The Welsh Rugby Union’s commercial and legal director, Rhodri Lewis, will leave the group after 14-years’ service to Welsh rugby at the end of January.
Statement from Abi Tierney, WRU CEO
"The new chief growth officer will be expected to generate more income for the business, so that more money can be fed back into the game in Wales.”
“Alongside these growth objectives, we have started a cost saving and efficiency programme which seeks to improve our financial foundations as part of the ‘One Wales’ strategy.
“Being a more efficient business doesn’t mean you turn off investment and we are keen to invest in the right areas to improve our income generation for the benefit of Welsh rugby.”
“This new streamlined executive structure gives us a more efficient and more targeted leadership team, as well as giving us the opportunity to bring world class capability into the organisation.
“These will be the individuals and roles charged with enabling and implementing the new One Wales strategy, launched in headline form last summer.
“Together we will help Welsh rugby achieve the objectives set out in our strategy by allowing our talented and dedicated staff, and all those working in the best interests of rugby throughout the game in Wales, to reach their full potential.”