The Welsh Rugby Union has appointed Richard Collier-Keywood, the former global vice-chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers, as its first independent chair.
Collier-Keywood will be joined on the WRU board by another independent non-executive director in Alison Thorne, the former chair of leading equality charity Chwarae Teg.
It has been a turbulent year for Welsh rugby, with an external taskforce led by Dame Anne Rafferty investigating the governing body's culture following allegations of misogyny and sexism, while player wages and playing budgets at all four regions are being slashed. After Welsh rugby's member clubs voted in favour of historic change to the WRU's governance at an extraordinary general meeting in Port Talbot in March, they will hope these appointments can help rebuild Welsh rugby.
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Collier-Keywood, who is a former UK managing partner and global vice-chair of PwC, has been a senior adviser to the UK Government's department for digital, culture, media and sport and will become the first independent chair of the WRU.
Thorne, a short-listed contender to become chair herself, has accepted the invitation to fill one of two further vacant INED spots on the WRU board, with active recruitment still ongoing for remaining INED candidates.
Collier-Keywood's mother grew up in Maesteg and his childhood was split between Nottingham and Porthcawl, and he will be the first appointed (rather than elected) chair in WRU history when he takes over from Ieuan Evans.
He currently chairs Fair4All Finance, funded by dormant assets to support financial inclusion, and the School for Social Entrepreneurs which supports hundreds of entrepreneurs to start and scale businesses which make a difference. He is also on the board of the National Community Lottery Fund and Women of the World, which promotes gender equality internationally.
Collier-Keywood said: "I’m absolutely delighted to accept the role as chair of the WRU. Welsh rugby has always been hugely emotional for me and it is such a strength that there are millions of us that care and feel the same way.
"The hard work of Ieuan Evans and Nigel Walker over the last few months has meant that we have a solid platform to take forward. There is a lot to do and I am looking forward to: developing and implementing a strategy which supports and drives all elements of Welsh rugby throughout both the women’s and the men’s game, increasing the amount that we can invest in both the professional game and the community; establishing a new culture and implementing the recommendations of the ongoing independent review; and working with the board to ensure we have the right mix of skills and viewpoints to take Welsh rugby forward.
“It is exciting that rugby is evolving to include the whole family and we need to recognise and support this as well as the very important role that it plays at the centre of many of our communities. Finally, we are excited about Wales’ prospects for the future, not least the upcoming World Rugby U20s Championship in South Africa, the men’s Rugby World Cup in France and the World XV tournament for Wales’ Women in New Zealand.”
The recent governance changes harbour the ambition of having at least five (40%) women on the 12-person WRU board.
Thorne is from Penarth, has a commercial background in the retail sector as an executive director and is currently chair of the National Dance Company Wales and chair of Barcud Housing Association. She is a former chair of leading equality charity Chwarae Teg and is the lead in Wales for Women on Boards. Creating inclusive organisations is her core aim, with insightful awareness of the challenges and opportunities in delivering diversity in thinking.
She holds a number of further current non-exec roles including being board member at Sport Wales, governor of Cardiff Metropolitan University, and is an independent panel member for public appointments for Welsh Government. Her love for rugby stems from her father, Tony Thorne, who was a groundsman at the former National Stadium, Cardiff Arms Park, in the 1970s and 1980s.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the WRU board at this exciting time for the game in Wales,” said Alison. “Change has been necessary and, perhaps, overdue as recognised by the commitment to a new way forward by the community and professional game members. This commitment will enable the game to become truly inclusive and successful as we all work together towards that aim.
“It will be incumbent upon myself and colleagues joining the board to ensure that progress continues to be made, listening effectively and enhancing the unique, endearing and impressive qualities that Welsh rugby projects around the world. Welsh rugby has been the pride of Wales and it will be a privilege to be a part of rebuilding and developing that pride and passion still further as we look to bring much deserved sustainability and success to all aspects of the game.”
The WRU will now intensify its search for a new chief executive to replace Steve Phillips, who left his post in January.
“I would like to personally thank everyone who has expressed an interest in joining the WRU board at this time of seismic change for our governance structure, we have been humbled by the high calibre of candidates in all quarters," said current WRU chair Ieuan Evans.
“Our new-look board is beginning to take shape and I have every confidence that we will have the diversity of talent and skillset to ensure our place in the elite women’s and men’s game and to continue to grow and support all sections of our community game, both male and female, when the process is complete.
“We continue in our long-term aspiration to achieve a 40% gender balance across the board and will work hard to ensure this is achieved, whilst also ensuring we have the very best people for the job and the right variety of skills experience and business acumen to lead Welsh rugby into a new frontier. Welsh rugby will be rightly buoyed by these two new appointments but these are just the first steps. Next we will find our permanent CEO and fill the remaining INED position and vacancies. We will assemble a board which stands up to scrutiny and meets the highest standards of the rugby world and one that will make the nation proud in the years ahead.”
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