The new chair of the body that runs professional rugby in Wales has been revealed following on from the “disastrous” departure of his predecessor.
Media industry executive Malcolm Wall fills the vacancy created by the abrupt and mysterious exit of Amanda Blanc last November. Blanc, the chief executive officer of insurance company Aviva, stepped down as chair of the Professional Rugby Board (PRB) in November after just under two years at the helm, also leaving the WRU board.
Cardiff Rugby life president Peter Thomas described her departure as “a disaster” and “a huge backward step”. He also urged the WRU to explain why she finished, with her resignation letter having been kept “very private”, and said it was vital to make the right appointment as her replacement. You can read Thomas' full comments here.
Now, four months on, the new independent chair of the PRB has been unveiled. A former chair of English champions Harlequins, Wall has held a series of high level executive positions across the media industry over the past 30 years.
He is currently chairman at three separate companies - including dock10 Ltd - and has previously been a Non-Executive Director of Image Nation LLC, the Abu Dhabi based international film fund. Wall worked at Southern, Anglia and Granada Television before becoming deputy CEO of Meridian Broadcasting in the early ‘90s and then ran Virgin Media’s content business for three years, including Virgin Media Television, and was also chairman of UKTV.
“It will be an honour to serve Welsh rugby,” said Englishman Wall, who also played for Harlequins.
“Rugby is at a critical stage of its development from a global perspective. The game needs to be agile and to continue to evolve and adapt but that is exactly what the PRB is in place to facilitate and it will be my great pleasure to bring all of my business experience and skills to the table in the very best interests of the professional game in Wales.”
WRU chair Rob Butcher said: “This is a hugely significant appointment for Welsh rugby. The PRB exists to safeguard the future and facilitate the successful operation of our professional game and it was vital for us to find someone of Malcom’s calibre, relevant knowledge, experience and business acumen, to fill this important position.
“Malcolm follows an incredible leader and an inspiring individual, in Amanda Blanc, into the role and we thank Amanda sincerely for her great contribution to our game. But Malcolm has shone through from an impressive list of candidates and we are highly confident we have found the very best person for the job and are delighted that Malcolm has accepted the challenge of chairing some of the most important discussions taking place in Welsh rugby today.”
WRU CEO Phillips added: “We are hugely grateful to Amanda Blanc for her service to Welsh rugby. She has helped us charter safely through extremely difficult waters both during the recent pandemic and outside it and the game in Wales owes her a huge debt of gratitude for both her commitment and dedication to the role.
“Having been unanimously appointed by the PRB, I know Malcolm will be a hugely positive presence and we are all very much looking forward to welcoming him on board at our first meeting. He has an extensive range of experience and knowledge that we hope to be able to tap into, but he also has the personality, persona and gravitas to be able to pick up exactly where Amanda has left off and help ensure that the professional game in Wales continues on its forward trajectory.”
The PRB is a joint body made up of representatives from the regions and the WRU. It comprises Alun Jones (Cardiff Rugby), David Buttress (Dragons), Nick Garcia (Ospreys) and Simon Muderack (Scarlets), WRU CEO Steve Phillips and WRU finance director Tim Moss. There are also two independent members, Malcolm Wall as chair and also Marianne Økland.
The PRB meetings are also attended by the WRU’s performance director Nigel Walker and the chair of the Rugby Management Board, Jon Daniels. Wall becomes the third chair of the body, following on from David Lovett and Blanc.
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