The former Wales and Llanelli prop returned to the WRU Council as a National Council Member following an election among its member clubs in February.
He replaced Liza Burgess who stood down from her position as a National Council Member to pursue a different role with the Union – as WRU Lead Age Grade Coach (female rugby) and Wales Women U18s head coach – but a Council election was needed to decide which of four WRU National Council Members, including Buchanan, would take up the WRU Board position simultaneously vacated by his predecessor.
Buchanan won the vote at a meeting held this week and the Llanelli stalwart will now serve the remainder of the term begun by Burgess in both positions – an eight-month period running up to the next WRU Annual General Meeting this year, at which time he will remain eligible to stand for election as a National Council Member again.
“I am delighted to welcome Anthony back into the Boardroom of the Welsh Rugby Union, he is a real asset to the game.,” said WRU chair Rob Butcher.
“He has already been of great service to Welsh rugby in a number of different roles both in the club game and, not least, during his recent tenure as a Board member, and I know he will continue to make a hugely positive contribution.”
A veteran of the business world Buchanan is a retired company director, a former Welsh international and the current chairman of Llanelli Rugby Club.
He spent almost three decades as a player and team manager for Llanelli and the Scarlets and has served a number of distinguished roles for his home town club Ystradgynlais.
Buchanan first served as a WRU Board and Council Member from 2014 before standing down in 2019, when he was replaced by Burgess.
The WRU Council, which elects Board members from its number, consists of five National Council Members and fourteen District Council Members.
The WRU Board consists of two Independent Non-Executive Directors, the WRU CEO, the Professional Rugby Board chair, two National Council Members (elected to the Council on a national basis by member clubs, Affiliated and Associated Organisations) and six District Council Members (elected to the Council by member clubs representing each WRU District).
