WRU executive director of rugby steps down

NEWS: Nigel Walker has left his role as the executive director of rugby for the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Huw Bevan, who is currently interim performance director, and community director, Geraint John, will assume Walker’s executive duties in the short term with a new Director of Rugby to be recruited in the New Year.

Walker joined the Welsh Rugby Union in 2021 as performance director and introduced the first professional contracts for Wales Women later that year. He took on the interim chief executive role in January 2023 and reverted to his current role with the arrival of CEO Abi Tierney in January 2024.

“This decision has not been made lightly as I have cherished my time at the Welsh Rugby Union immensely, but it’s time for a new leader for the performance department,” said Walker.

“My tenure has not been without its challenges and we have achieved a great amount but, ultimately, it is right that I am judged on performances on the pitch and both of our senior teams have found the last 12 months extremely difficult and therefore I believe now is the right time for me to step down.

“These are fast-moving times, we have launched a new headline strategy for Welsh rugby which is inextricably linked to a new Professional Rugby Agreement to be signed imminently between the WRU and our four regional clubs.

“We are changing the management structure in our high-performance team with respect to our senior Wales Women squad, with a new head coach to be appointed soon. In the senior men’s game, there is much scrutiny of the role of our high-performance department and how its systems and structures can best enable success for all of our professional teams.

“All of these workstreams, when completed, will help enable success for Welsh rugby and I am proud of the contributions I have made in each space.

“Welsh rugby will prosper again. It will do so because of the strength, passion, and good nature of the people who work at the WRU and the nation that supports our national game, but I am pleased to have had an opportunity to contribute.

“I am proud of my achievements in the role and as interim CEO through a difficult period of time for the Welsh Rugby Union. I thank all those who I have worked alongside during that time and would like to pay special mention in gratitude to our former chair, Ieuan Evans, and to wish our current chair Richard Collier-Keywood, and our CEO Abi Tierney much success in the future.

Abi Tierney added: “Nigel leaves Welsh rugby with a wide range of significant achievements both in the Wales Women’s senior game and also throughout the performance department where he has made advancements which will pay dividends long into the future.

“We are grateful for his contribution to our game but we respect his decision to move on and hand over the reins to a new leader in this space.

“Nigel will always be remembered as the interim CEO who led Welsh rugby with dignity and grace through one of its most difficult periods in terms of the WRU Independent Review which was instigated approximately two years ago.

“He has also been instrumental in establishing a new Professional Rugby Agreement with our member clubs, a PRA which will govern a successful and mutually beneficial relationship between the WRU and our four regional clubs over the next five years – to be signed shortly.

“We must not forget that his legacy to the women’s game in Wales was to introduce the first professional contracts over two years ago and to contribute significantly to the WRU’s evolution into professional rugby for our senior women’s team.

“We wish Nigel well for the future and thank him for his dedication and service to our game.”