There are currently ten individuals who have received the required nominations, from at least two WRU member clubs, with five candidates members of clubs themselves – representing Tonyrefail, Porth, Penarth, Cwmgors and Swansea rugby clubs – and a further five candidates nominated by virtue of the senior professional positions they hold across both the public and private sectors.
Details of the full list of nominees will be announced at the time of balloting, but the closing date for candidates is today Friday 12th April, with WRU chairman Gareth Davies delighted with the standard of applicants so far.
Only two candidates will be elected to join the new WRU Council but, despite the impressive list of nominees Davies has issued a final call for more new blood to swell the numbers with the ultimate aim of improving the diversity of the WRU Board itself.
“We are delighted with the high standard of candidates who have been put forward by our member clubs so far,” said Davies.
“We gave clubs the specific remit to find candidates with the right skill sets to increase the diversity, breadth of experience and range of attributes on our Council and they have delivered.
“Under our new governance structure the majority of Board members will be elected directly from our Council, so these new positions are a positive signpost to the future diversity of Welsh rugby.
“Only with a list of candidates that truly represents the cross section of Welsh rugby will the WRU Council be able to speak for the whole rugby family.”
A new, streamlined, WRU Board reduced from 20 to 12 members, has been phased in after governance changes were voted through by member clubs at the last WRU Annual General meeting (AGM), in October.
The Council – which provides eight members of the reduced Board and is entirely elected by member clubs – has a total membership of 19 (14 District Council Members and 5 National Council Members) and it is intended that it should become as representative as possible of the rugby communities it serves.
Davies has previously appealed for member clubs to ‘break the mould’ in their nominations for these two National Council positions which he sees as an important step to improving diversity – and therefore the breadth of knowledge, experience and influence – at Council and, consequently, Board level.
Prospective candidates must be nominated by at least two WRU member clubs by the end of today, although candidates do not need to be members themselves to apply.
“There is a clear route from Council to Board level and an explicit remit to improve diversity on both and so we hope these new roles will appeal to new groups of people with the relevant knowledge, experience and skills required,” added Davies.
“It must be stressed that we are looking for candidates who are from different backgrounds and who can represent the many different communities that rugby in Wales serves.
“Of course we want individuals who are representative of our rugby communities and who are from the rugby family, but we very much want to break the mould with these new appointments too and we are confident both requirements are achievable.”
