The WRU will soon start the search for a new chair
The announcement that Richard Collier-Keywood will step down as chair of the Welsh Rugby Union in July has surprised many.
A divisive figure, Collier-Keywood sought to drive through radical reform but attracted significant criticism over his approach. The WRU board must now focus on identifying his successor.
Unlike in the past, the WRU board appoints the chair rather than the member clubs.
The board’s first decision is whether to pursue an internal or external appointment.
Should it opt for a new candidate from outside the current set-up, that individual would initially need to be appointed as a non-executive director, with subsequent elevation to chair being a formality.
Here are eight potential candidates.
David Buttress
The appointment of David Buttress would prove an immensely popular choice among some supporters.
Buttress has been a prominent figure in Welsh rugby for the past nine years and, as chair of the Dragons, played a central role in securing the club’s survival by assembling a consortium to purchase it from the WRU.
A co-founder of Just Eat, he ranks among Wales’s most accomplished entrepreneurs and merits serious consideration for the role.
Buttress has previously expressed frustration with Welsh rugby’s governance and would represent a breath of fresh air within the governing body, bringing a markedly different perspective.
He is a committed advocate for retaining four professional sides and has argued that the WRU ought to be capable of generating greater funding for the pro game for an organisation with a turnover of £107 million.
Responding on the social media platform X this morning to a question on Welsh rugby’s strategic direction, Buttress said: “The strategy is clear: four professional teams, stable and secure funding for three years, and a focus on directing key investment into player development and facilities.
“An urgent agreement must be reached with private owners, with the aim of establishing a genuine partnership to attract investment and sponsors.”
The only barrier would be he’d have to step away from the Dragons if he was to become WRU chair.
Mar
Phillips has experience in Welsh rugby, having previously been CEO of the WRU for five years.
The man from Pembrokeshire, a former boss of retail giant B&Q, saw his tenure coincide with Wales reaching a World Cup semi-final and winning another Six Nations Grand Slam on the field.
Off the field, there were record turnovers for the union, while there was a rare period of success at regional level with the Scarlets winning the old PRO 12 and Cardiff lifting the Challenge Cup.
As CEO he put a huge amount of emphasis on building relationships with the four professional clubs and healing old wounds following the tumultuous reign of Roger Lewis.
Phillips is currently the chair of PRL and would be a decent person to come back to guide the CEO.
Carwyn Jones
The former First Minister for Wales is a huge rugby fan and has previously been interviewed for the role of chair but missed out to Collier-Keywood back in 2023.
Jones is thought to be hugely popular with many community clubs and many within the game favour the former First Minister becoming WRU chair.
The 59-year-old has no experience in elite rugby but could help improve the WRU’s reputation with the Welsh Government.
Moving forward, many would argue it is essential that the WRU works with the Welsh Government to improve the game at all levels.
Clearly Jones could help the WRU in this regard, but whatever happens next some tough decisions need to be made to fix the men’s professional game.
Andrew Williams
The former Cardiff board member is a serious operator and is heavily respected throughout the game.
Williams is currently an independent non-executive director on the WRU board who understands the professional game and what needs to be done to put it on a firm footing.
The wider Welsh public does not understand how much of a coup it is to have an A-lister like Williams on the board.
He was the longest serving FTSE 100 CEO in the UK at Halma PLC, where he stayed for 18 years.
Williams helped Halma grow from a business worth £500m into a company worth £10bn.
He would have the respect and trust of all key stakeholders, and he is also the right man to drive change.
Gareth Davies
The appointment of the former Wales outside-half would bring one of the most respected administrators in the game back to the fore. He previously served six years as chair of the WRU.
During his tenure, Davies worked diligently to modernise the WRU’s governance, reducing the board from 24 members to 12 and appointing high-profile non-executive directors, including Amanda Blanc.
He also sought to streamline the structure by reducing the nine districts to four in a further effort to modernise governance, but was ultimately forced out amid what many regard as the archaic and self-serving culture within Welsh rugby.
Davies combines deep rugby knowledge with a strong grasp of business, making him a compelling candidate.
He is also a figure capable of rebuilding trust.
Jennifer Mathias
The appointment of Jennifer Mathias would represent a credible and financially astute option.
Mathias, who hails from Pembrokeshire, has served on the board of the Welsh Rugby Union as an independent non-executive director since October 2023.
She previously held the role of group chief financial officer at Rathbones Group, a £1.2 billion wealth management business listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Mathias has also worked at Lloyds TSB Group, where she occupied a number of senior management positions.
In 2013, she was named in the PAM Top 40 Under 40.
She is well placed to succeed Richard Collier-Keywood and would represent a strong choice were the priority to improve the WRU’s financial position.
Critics of the WRU’s proposals to reduce the number of professional clubs to three have frequently argued that the governing body has lacked sufficient transparency in its financial dealings.
Whatever structure Welsh rugby ultimately adopts, it will be dictated by financial realities, and Mathias would constitute a compelling option.
Hayley Parsons
Parsons is arguably Wales’ most successful female entrepreneur and was previously on the Cardiff Rugby Board.
She founded Go.Compare and has helped build many successful Welsh businesses.
Parsons is a vocal critic of current chair, Collier-Keywood, so you can expect her approach to be the polar opposite if she were his successor.
“The Chair is extremely skilled in the world of government, consultancy and law, but that’s not what the WRU needs at the moment,” wrote Parsons in a letter sent to community clubs.
“We need people who understand how to engage with people – with WRU staff, community and regional rugby fans and stakeholders to bring them along on this journey.
“Spending millions of pounds on unnecessary consultants and legal fees will not repair the reputational damage this is causing Welsh rugby.
“This money should be ploughed back into the game. I believe we have some extremely credible and talented people on the WRU board who are more than capable of safeguarding the future of Welsh rugby.
“When you run a business, you have to make tough decisions and, what is crucial to the success of any strategic change is how you follow the process and treat the people affected.”
That’s a flavour of what to expect if Parsons was chair.
Rob Regan
The former chief operating officer at Principality is hugely passionate about Welsh rugby and has been meeting a number of key stakeholders within the game.
Along with a number of prominent figures, Regan has worked hard to put together an alternative plan for Welsh rugby.
Regan’s key principles would be built on repairing relationships and regaining trust with the key stakeholders in Welsh rugby.
He would certainly be a popular appointment.
Alison Thorne
If the WRU board want to go for continuity, then Thorne would be a serious contender given she is currently the Senior Independent Director.
Thorne has been on the WRU board for nearly three years so understands the pitfalls of Welsh rugby along with the true financial position.
Away from rugby Throne is the chair of the National Dance Company Wales and Barcud Housing Association.
Thorne has also been a chair of leading equality charity Chwarae Teg and is the lead in Wales for Women on Boards.
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