Changing of the guard in Wales
Former Wales flyhalf Gareth Davies has been elected as the new Chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union.
Davies will replace David Pickering, whose 11-year stint ended at last weekend's WRU annual general meeting after he failed to gain re-election to the governing body's board of directors.
The 59-year-old Davies then had to defeat WRU board Director Martin Davies before being named Chairman.
Gareth Davies will take up his new role with immediate effect and will resign from his current post as Chief Executive of Welsh regional side Newport Gwent Dragons, after serving a notice period, to avoid a conflict of interest.
"It is a fantastic honour to be elected Chairman of the WRU and I will aim to live up to my old Gwendraeth School motto which is : 'There is no honour without responsibility'," said Davies, who won 21 caps between 1978 and 1985 and toured South Africa with the British and Irish Lions in 1980.
"I want to thank the board of directors for their support and confidence in my ability to represent the WRU in this role.
"I have also been encouraged by the support I have already received from so many grassroots clubs," said Davies whose election as Chairman came after the end of a bitter dispute between the WRU and the regions.
"I also want to personally thank the departing Chairman, David Pickering, for the immense contribution he has made across the past 11 years he held this post.
"We must continue to evolve and develop to seize the opportunities and meet the challenges ahead, and I am determined to ensure the WRU is a governing body we can be proud of.
"I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board, the Executive and staff of the WRU and everyone involved in our sport to ensure we build on the success of recent years."
In a further vote by the Board Ken Hewitt was elected to continue as Deputy Chairman of the WRU.
Appointments to a number of key committees will be confirmed at a future meeting of the full WRU Board.
The Group Chief Executive of the WRU, Roger Lewis, said: "I want to offer my congratulations to Gareth on his appointment to the role of Chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union.
"We all know how important the Chairman of the WRU is in Wales, not just for our sport, but for the position rugby holds within the cultural life of our nation.
"I look forward to working closely with Gareth as we seek to sustain and develop our role as the national sport of Wales and a key nation at the top level of the world game.
"Our business is in good shape, our international status is strong and our focus on the community game is paying dividends in strengthening the infrastructure of our sport at the grassroots level.
"We can't take our foot off the pedal and there are exciting times ahead for all of us involved in Welsh rugby.
"I also want to personally thank our departing Chairman David Pickering for everything he has achieved for our game during his term in the role and wish him well for the future away from the Board."
At the Board meeting new district directors Chris Morgan, David Young and national directors, Anthony Buchanan and Gareth Davies all took up their appointments.
They replace Aurwel Morgan and Roy Giddings on districts D and B the national director Gerald Davies who has stepped down and David Pickering who was not re-elected for a further term.
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