Welsh rugby: Who sits on the WRU board?

A new-look Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) board to run the national game will be in place for 2024.

The governing body has revamped the top level of the game following a series of scandals this year.

A damning report found aspects of the WRU’s culture were sexist, racist, misogynistic and homophobic.

Two-thirds of the board has changed, to include five women and twice the number of independent members as well as three former players.

But who are the people behind the scenes in charge of our national game?

The WRU board is made up of 12 directors.

Malcolm Wall, chair of the Professional Rugby Board (PRB), John Manders, Colin Wilks and Chris Jones are the only members who were on the WRU board at the beginning of 2023.

Previously it was dominated by members voted into position by the clubs, though for many, including former chairman Ieuan Evans, that imbalance was part of the problem with the board branded “archaic”.

Modernisation plans were given the go-ahead at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) following a series of controversies that began with a BBC Wales Investigates programme in January.

Chief executive Steve Phillips resigned before an independent review later found aspects of the WRU’s culture were sexist, misogynistic, racist and homophobic and not properly challenged.

Employees described the environment as “toxic”, governance was not fit for purpose and the board described as dysfunctional and ill-equipped to address serious culture problems.

However, the WRU believes the move has brought in more professional expertise while also realising its gender diversity ambitions.