Nigel Walker has been handed a powerful new role by the Welsh Rugby Union, overseeing the professional and community game in Wales.
Current interim chief executive Walker will become the new WRU executive director of Rugby when the new CEO is announced imminently. The appointment has been made by new chair Richard Collier-Keywood, who started work on Monday.
It means Walker will be Wales head coach Warren Gatland's boss going forward, with a remit to oversee, promote and sustain community, professional and international rugby in Wales. The new role will sit above Walker's previous job of Performance Director, currently held on an interim basis by Huw Bevan, and Community Director, held by Geraint John. The Wales senior professional coaching staff in both the men’s and women’s game will report directly into him, while Walker himself will report into the new CEO.
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The new role comes amid the desire from the Board and Collier-Keywood to better integrate the rugby agenda across Wales by improving the links between community, professional and international rugby.
“I have enjoyed my time as WRU CEO and I will continue to work hard in the best interests of Welsh rugby.” said Walker.
“It has been a privilege and an honour to serve our game and lead Welsh rugby through its recent challenges over the last six months, but I knew early on in the recruitment process that Richard and the Board wanted a CEO with a strong commercial background, so I withdrew from the process, and I have been grateful for the honesty and commitment shown to me.
“This new role is not a role that I sought but when Richard discussed the new role of Executive Director of Rugby with me, it is something which greatly appeals to me. I will be addressing its challenges with the same vigour and determination to succeed that I hope I have shown everyone in the game over recent times.
“There is still much hard work to do secure a positive and sustainable future for Welsh rugby, but we will continue to progress together and I remain hugely optimistic about the future of our game.”
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Walker is said to have impressed the WRU Board and its new chair during his six-month interim stint at the helm.
He has led the WRU as interim CEO since February, successfully pushing through governance modernisation alongside Ieuan Evans that resulted in the independent appointment of new chair Collier-Keywood.
Walker has also been the public face of the WRU in the wake of Steve Phillips' resignation that followed bombshell claims of a toxic culture at the heart of the organisation. Those allegations sparked the ongoing independent taskforce review into the Union, which is expected to publish its findings by the end of August.
The former Wales wing has also had to negotiate through the threat of a player strike during the and rubberstamp a new six-year financial agreement with the Welsh regions.
Collier-Keywood said: “I am delighted that Nigel will be taking up this new challenge. He has done a great job in leading the WRU over the last few months.
“This role is vital as we seek to deliver a ‘one rugby’ agenda across all aspects of community, professional and international rugby in Wales. We want to widen the appeal of rugby for everyone in Wales and integrate what we do from grassroots to international level across all formats of the game.”
The new WRU CEO is expected to be announced shortly.