Walker handed new Welsh Rugby Union role

Nigel Walker has been appointed because the Welsh Rugby Union’s (WRU) first government director of rugby.

The previous Wales wing had taken on the non permanent chief government position following the resignation of Steve Phillips in January 2023.

Walker had initially been within the everlasting position however says he withdrew his curiosity “at an early stage.”

He was thrust into the WRU interim position following Phillips’ departure after a BBC Wales Investigates programme raised allegations of misogyny and sexism in Welsh rugby’s governing physique.

Walker’s new place has been created by the primary WRU impartial chair Richard Collier-Keywood who has changed Ieuan Evans.

Walker will sit above two government roles of efficiency director, presently held on an interim foundation by Huw Bevan and group director Geraint John.

The Wales senior skilled teaching employees within the males’s and girls’s recreation will now report on to Walker.

“I’ve loved my time as WRU chief government and can proceed to work onerous in one of the best pursuits of Welsh rugby.” stated Walker.

“It has been a privilege and an honour to serve our recreation and lead Welsh rugby by way of its current challenges over the past six months.

“However I knew early on within the recruitment course of Richard and the board wished a chief government with a powerful industrial background, so I withdrew from the method and have been grateful for the honesty and dedication proven to me.

“This new position is just not a task I sought however when Richard mentioned the brand new position with me, it’s one thing which enormously appeals to me.

“I will likely be addressing its challenges with the identical vigour and willpower to succeed I hope I’ve proven everybody within the recreation over current instances.

“There’s nonetheless onerous work to do to safe a constructive and sustainable future for Welsh rugby however we’ll proceed to progress collectively and I stay vastly optimistic about the way forward for our recreation.”

Walker was appointed because the WRU efficiency director in July 2021. He campaigned alongside former WRU chair Ieuan Evans for governance modernisation which was handed with a 97% majority at a unprecedented normal assembly in March 2023. That resulted within the appointment of recent chair Collier-Keywood.

Walker additionally helped information the WRU by way of the present impartial evaluation taskforce course of and was instrumental in negotiating a brand new six-year Skilled Rugby Settlement (PRA) with Wales’ 4 areas.

Collier-Keywood, who has simply formally taken up the place because the WRU’s chair, outlined Walker’s new position.

“I’m delighted Nigel will likely be taking on this new problem, he has performed an important job in main the WRU over the previous couple of months,” stated Collier-Keywood.

“This position is significant as we search to ship a ‘one rugby’ agenda throughout all points of group, skilled and worldwide rugby in Wales.

“We wish to widen the enchantment of rugby for everybody in Wales and combine what we do from grassroots to worldwide stage throughout all codecs of the sport.”