Walker handed new Welsh Rugby Union role

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

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

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

He was thrust into the WRU interim function 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 govt roles of efficiency director, at present held on an interim foundation by Huw Bevan and neighborhood director Geraint John.

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

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

“It has been a privilege and an honour to serve our recreation and lead Welsh rugby via its current challenges during the last six months.

“However I knew early on within the recruitment course of Richard and the board needed a chief govt 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 function is just not a job I sought however when Richard mentioned the brand new function with me, it’s one thing which vastly appeals to me.

“I shall be addressing its challenges with the identical vigour and dedication to succeed I hope I’ve proven everybody within the recreation over current occasions.

“There’s nonetheless laborious 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 common assembly in March 2023. That resulted within the appointment of recent chair Collier-Keywood.

Walker additionally helped information the WRU via the present impartial overview 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 function.

“I’m delighted Nigel shall be taking on this new problem, he has finished an ideal job in main the WRU over the previous couple of months,” mentioned Collier-Keywood.

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

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