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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

WRU fail in attempt to appoint their own independent chair after AGM vote

The Welsh Rugby Union have failed in an attempt to give the Board the option to appoint an independent figure as the organisation’s chair.

The motion was presented at the WRU’s AGM at the Parkgate Hotel in Cardiff, as the union sought to modernise its governance.

The special resolution required a voting share of 75% from the clubs present, but it only managed 65.4%.

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Current chairman Rob Butcher was backing the motion that would have seen the Board able to appoint their own independent chair, who hasn’t been appointed by the clubs.

However, the failure to get the motion passed means that current model will continue of the WRU chair being elected by eight directors on the Board who had been put in the position by votes from district representatives on the WRU Council.

"To get 75% of anything is difficult and on this occasion we just fell short," said Butcher afterwards. "We are disappointed but we have to reposition ourselves and think it through and go forward.

"I am still convinced in my mind it was the right thing to do. Unless you ask you don't know.

"The next stage of the process is for the board to meet, discuss and reflect. I would argue, somehow or other we have to think how we take it forward to get where we want to go because I am convinced it's a sound idea.

"It's the right and positive thing to do in making our game and I am convinced if there is an overall mantra, it's to make the Welsh Rugby Union better than it is at the moment and this would have been a step on the way."

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