Jamie Roberts gets powerful new WRU job as major announcement made

Former Wales and British and Irish Lions star Jamie Roberts has been appointed to the board of the Welsh Rugby Union.

Roberts takes on the powerful position as one of many Union’s new unbiased administrators, with Amanda Bennett and Jennifer Mathias additionally appointed in a big transfer. Centre Roberts performed 94 instances for Wales and received two Grand Slams and a Six Nations Championship – all whereas finding out drugs and, later, gaining additional levels from each Loughborough and Cambridge Universities.

The appointments of Bennett and Mathias additionally sign a optimistic change of route on the WRU, with its said intention to change into a contemporary, thriving organisation match for 2023 and past.

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Bennett, a former Welsh worldwide who has performed, coached and led girls’s rugby over a 40-year profession, takes up the new place of unbiased Non-Executive Director (iNED) with particular expertise of the Women’s and Girls’ recreation at each skilled and group ranges.

Mathias brings spectacular monetary pedigree. She describes herself as a ‘deeply commercial’ CFO, working for the London Stock Exchange listed wealth administration agency Rathbones.

Speaking of his new iNED position, Roberts stated: “As a not too long ago retired worldwide participant I’ve an immense ardour for Welsh rugby. It is a large honour to tackle a place of accountability and affect throughout such an necessary interval for the sport in Wales.

“My experiences across the world have provided me with a varied and valuable insight into high performance from a player’s perspective and I relish the opportunity to harness my experience and knowledge on and off the playing field to contribute further to the WRU and a sport that has shaped my life.”

Current iNEDs Cat Read and Henry Engelhardt might be stepping down over the approaching weeks after finishing their phrases.

The new 12-person Board which governs Welsh rugby is made up of eight appointed administrators, together with the Chair and CEO. Seven of those have now been introduced.

Previous appointments characteristic 4 girls from the elite sports activities and enterprise worlds. The remaining 4 elected locations are topic to elections in November and by the top of the 12 months the new board might be in place.

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Bennett stated of her new position: “I’m as passionate now as I used to be once I began my taking part in profession concerning the development and success of rugby in Wales, particularly girls’s rugby. I intention to make use of my governance, management and inclusion experience as properly as my information and expertise as a board director on this position.

“Wales Women are climbing the world rankings and this is as a result of the WRU’s current performance leadership and investment programme. This programme is on route to becoming world leading, based on the implementation of recommendations of the WRU’s 2021 Women’s Performance review. These are exciting times for the women’s game and this progress will form part of the wider strategic direction for the game as a whole. I am really looking forward to shaping that future with the Chair and Board colleagues.”

Mathias added: “I am delighted to be bringing my financial and transformation experience to help the WRU prosper during this most critical and important strategic journey ahead. I firmly believe this is a WRU which will create a one-Wales approach to rugby resulting in a modern, accessible and sustainable future for the game in Wales at all levels.”

WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood stated: “We have recruited a large and various vary of top quality candidates to new Board positions from an especially top quality discipline.

“The new WRU Board is taking form and we’re delighted with the mix of enterprise and business expertise, governance acumen and elite sporting information that we now have been in a position to put collectively.

“We have not only significantly improved the gender diversity of our Board, but also introduced a new diversity of thought and experience in terms of both age and occupation, with the appointment of individuals who are hugely respected in their respective fields.”