In a recent development, former Wales rugby centre Jamie Roberts has assumed a pivotal role on the board of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), as reported by Sky News.
Roberts joins as one of the WRU’s freshly appointed independent directors, alongside Amanda Bennett, a former Wales player and coach, and Jennifer Mathias, a seasoned financial and commercial expert. In addition, Terry Cobner has been officially designated as the upcoming President of the WRU.
In other changes, Cat Read and Henry Engelhardt will be stepping down from their roles on the board in the forthcoming weeks.
Jamie Roberts, known for his impressive 94 appearances for the Welsh national team, where he secured two Grand Slams and a Six Nations Championship, managed to balance a rigorous medical education alongside earning advanced degrees from both Loughborough and Cambridge Universities.
The restructured 12-person Board governing Welsh rugby now comprises eight appointed directors, including the Chair and CEO. Notably, seven of these positions have already been unveiled, featuring four accomplished women from the sports and business sectors. The remaining four elected positions are due for determination through elections in November. By the year’s end, the new Board will be fully constituted, aligning with the WRU’s commitment to achieving gender diversity targets, as publicly stated.
“As a recently retired international player I have an immense passion for Welsh rugby.” Said Roberts.
“It is a huge honour to take on a position of responsibility and influence during such an important period for the game in Wales.
“My experiences across the world have provided me with a varied and valuable insight into high performance from a player’s perspective and I relish the opportunity to harness my experience and knowledge on and off the playing field to contribute further to the WRU and a sport that has shaped my life.”
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