Anthony Buchanan (Llanelli) and Gareth Davies (Newport Gwent Dragons) were the successful candidates for the two WRU National Appointed Director positions available with two new District Appointed Directors in Chris Morgan (District D) and David Young (District B) also voted in.
The 18-strong board will be reformed with its new members at the WRU’s AGM on Sunday 19th October, with the incumbents remaining in position until that time.
Buchanan and Davies won the vote over David Pickering (current WRU chairman, who will now stand down in October), Dai Davies (Newtown) and Dennis Jones (Cefneithin) for the two WRU National Appointed Director positions.
Three of the WRU’s current District Representatives who, like Pickering, had completed current three year terms, stood unopposed. They are consequently installed for a further 3 year term following the AGM they are: Ken Hewitt, Ray Wilton and Richard Gwynn.
In District B the incumbent Board member Roy Giddings, and Gwyn Bowden (Taffs Well), lost out to David Young (Llandaff North)
In District D, where Aurwel Morgan will stand down, Chris Morgan (Maesteg) won the vote against Cledwyn Edwards (Tonmawr).
WRU President, Mr Dennis Gethin, is unopposed and will therefore continue to serve in office for a further three year term following the AGM.
Pickering will now relinquish his position as chairman of the WRU following October’s AGM and leaves the WRU Board after a 15 year term, although he will remain on the board of Rugby World Cup ltd, to which he was appointed by the International Rugby Board.
An IRB council member for over 10 years he will go down in history as one of the national game’s most distinguished leaders with a truly global reputation.
The former Wales captain was appointed WRU chairman in 2003 and has presided over a new golden era of international success.
The legacy of his tenure will be felt almost immediately when the Millennium Stadium joins England 2015 as hosts for the Rugby World Cup competition next year, with Pickering instrumental in ensuring no less than eight matches will be played in the Welsh capital.
“I want to be the first to publicly congratulation both Anthony and Gareth on winning the vote,” said Pickering.
“I know both of them personally, they are great rugby men and I will be offering them all the help I can as they join the board of the Welsh Rugby Union.”
Pickering first rose to prominence in the administration side of the game when he was team manager to Graham Henry’s Wales, a side which completed a record consecutive 11-match winning run including an historic victory over South Africa on the Millennium Stadium’s opening day. The side also became the first British or Irish team to win a Test series on tour in Argentina.
Two years into Pickering’s time at the helm of the WRU, Mike Ruddock’s Wales completed the first RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam for nearly 30 years and current head coach Warren Gatland was soon to repeat the feat twice in 2008 and then 2012, swiftly followed by caretaker coach Rob Howley’s retention of the title a year later.
Pickering has represented the WRU on the IRB council for ten years and also held the honour of being chairman of the Six Nations for a record 4 years; one of his key achievements on behalf of Welsh rugby was to secure the hosting of RWC matches in Cardiff in 2007 – a feat he has managed to repeat for England2015.
The former flanker was capped 23 times by his country and faced England five times during his playing career, losing just once. He coached Neath for five years after his playing career ended in 1990 and went on to manage the Wales A side before graduating to looking after the national team alongside Henry.
Whilst team manager of the national side in 1998, he began the process – alongside the Leeke family – of developing the indoor training facilities at the Vale of Glamorgan Hotel in Hensol, which is now known as the WRU National Centre of Excellence and has evolved to be recognised as the finest facility of its kind in the world game.
Over his 12 year term of office as chairman Pickering has seen the WRU’s net bank debt reduce from £72m to its current position of £15m.
“This has been achieved through incredible business performance of the WRU group and support from major partners in Barclays bank and British Telecom, through debt forgiveness, in a deal which had the support of a great friend of Welsh rugby, the Welsh Secretary at the time Peter Hain,” said Pickering.
“We have also had significant Welsh government support during Rhodri Morgan’s time, when we were able return Wales to the Welsh sevens circuit which resulted in Wales’ only World Cup title in any sport in 2009.
“In 2007 Bernard Lapasset, the then chairman of the FFR and IRB, helped us greatly in our negotiations to bring the Rugby World Cup to Wales and we were privileged to host matches alongside the host nation France.
“A strong relationships with Martyn Thomas at the RFU and latterly with Bill Beaumont has ensured that the Millennium Stadium will once again host rugby’s showpiece tournament, with eight matches from the England2015 competition having been secured for Cardiff.”
On a world stage Pickering has helped to negotiate huge increases in revenue streams for the game from sponsors and TV companies and, on behalf of the Welsh nation, he has helped attract an impressive array of events to the Millennium Stadium and ensured the iconic building has stayed at the cutting edge of stadiums around the world – resulting in Wales being awarded its only Olympic event in 2012.
He will continue in office until October, when he says he will bring a series of governance reforms to the attention of the WRU’s AGM with a view to passing a series of measures.
In 2003 he was a key figure in changing the corporate structure of the WRU, replacing the former WRU committee with a streamlined board and appointing executive staff.
He has gone on to take responsibility for a number of key appointments that have shaped the current game and driven the current success of the WRU, namely those of both Warren Gatland and chief executive Roger Lewis.
“I hope to introduce governance reforms which include the introduction of non-executive directors, women on the board of the WRU, with limited terms of office for directors all of which I believe are essential for the long term integrity of a truly great sports governing body,” continued Pickering.
“When I took on the role of chairman I wanted to bring success back to Wales and I realised that selection of personnel, management and leadership where key.
“Changing the union to a corporate structure in 2003 was integral to its success and the appointments of both Warren and Roger have left their own marks on the successful history of the WRU.
“I came into rugby administration with the singular aim to drive Wales to success on and off the rugby field.
“The last 11 years will be known as a great rugby era and we have maintained fabulous business success, which has been responsible for the IRB pointing out two outstanding countries in the world to be punching above their weight in Wales and New Zealand.
“I could not have hoped to achieve any more, I’m hugely pleased with the great success Wales has had and I am delighted to have played my part in Welsh rugby history.
“I will always support Wales and rugby and its great ethical values of respect team work and fair play. I leave Welsh rugby as a true great Welsh institution and a brand leader in the world today.”
Over the period of this chairmanship Pickering has also committed substantial time and effort to supporting his major charity the NSPCC in Wales and chaired the ‘building brighter future’ NSPCC appeal, helping to raise over £8million pound over eight years.
He has enticed others from the world of rugby and celebrity to climb mountains throughout the world from Everest to Machu Pichu to Table Mountain and Kilimanjaro in fundraising initiatives.
“I’m especially proud of my wife Justine who has not only supported me throughout my time at the Welsh Rugby Union but also established the Ty Hapus Alzheimer’s charity based in the Vale of Glamorgan herself,” he added.
“I would like to personally thank her and the children for their unfailing support allowing me the privilege of working as hard as I possibly can for the good of Welsh rugby and the world game.”
The Group Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union, Roger Lewis, said: “The clubs of Welsh rugby have spoken in an open and transparent election process.
“I want to personally thank David Pickering for his exceptional service to the game in Wales as a player and an administrator who has earned the respect of all involved in rugby.
“He has chaired the WRU and the Millennium Stadium boards with great distinction over the past twelve years. Under his chairmanship Wales has won three Grand Slams, reached a Rugby World Cup semi-final and has supported community rugby with record investments.
“I also wish to congratulate Anthony and Gareth who are two rugby men who made their reputations as players and, off the field, either through coaching or administration. I also give my best wishes to David
Young and Chris Morgan and welcome them onto the Board as district representatives.”
The Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland said: “I want to personally thank David Pickering for the incredible support he has given me and the entire national squad.
“He has shown strength, integrity and loyalty at all times and I wish him well in his future. He was involved in my recruitment and we worked closely together ever since.”
