WRU Chairman David Pickering to Step Down after Losing Board Elections

The Welsh Rugby Union have appointed Anthony Buchanan (Llanelli) and Gareth Davies (Newport Gwent Dragons) to two WRU National Director positions available with two new District Appointed Directors in Chris Morgan and David Young 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 three year term following the AGM they are: Ken Hewitt, Ray Wilton and Richard Gwynn.

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.

“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 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 England 2015.

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.

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.”