{"id":501781,"date":"2026-03-29T12:55:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T12:55:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/501781\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T12:55:12","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T12:55:12","slug":"the-8-candidates-to-replace-richard-collier-keywood-as-wru-chair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/501781\/","title":{"rendered":"The 8 candidates to replace Richard Collier-Keywood as WRU chair"},"content":{"rendered":"

The WRU will soon start the search for a new chair\"walesonline\"<\/p>\n

07:34, 29 Mar 2026Updated 09:40, 29 Mar 2026<\/p>\n

\"Dragons<\/p>\n

Dragons owner David Buttress could be one option(Image: Chris Fairweather\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\n

The announcement that Richard Collier-Keywood will step down as chair of the Welsh Rugby Union<\/a> in July has surprised many.<\/p>\n

A divisive figure, Collier-Keywood sought to drive through radical reform but attracted significant criticism over his approach. The WRU board must now focus on identifying his successor.<\/p>\n

Unlike in the past, the WRU board appoints the chair rather than the member clubs.<\/p>\n

The board’s first decision is whether to pursue an internal or external appointment.<\/p>\n

Should it opt for a new candidate from outside the current set-up, that individual would initially need to be appointed as a non-executive director, with subsequent elevation to chair being a formality.<\/p>\n

Here are eight potential candidates.<\/p>\n

David Buttress<\/p>\n

The appointment of David Buttress would prove an immensely popular choice among some supporters.<\/p>\n

Buttress has been a prominent figure in Welsh rugby for the past nine years and, as chair of the Dragons, played a central role in securing the club\u2019s survival by assembling a consortium to purchase it from the WRU.<\/p>\n

A co-founder of Just Eat, he ranks among Wales\u2019s most accomplished entrepreneurs and merits serious consideration for the role.<\/p>\n

Buttress has previously expressed frustration with Welsh rugby’s governance and would represent a breath of fresh air within the governing body, bringing a markedly different perspective.<\/p>\n

He is a committed advocate for retaining four professional sides and has argued that the WRU ought to be capable of generating greater funding for the pro game for an organisation with a turnover of \u00a3107 million.<\/p>\n

Responding on the social media platform X this morning to a question on Welsh rugby\u2019s strategic direction, Buttress said: \u201cThe strategy is clear: four professional teams, stable and secure funding for three years, and a focus on directing key investment into player development and facilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn urgent agreement must be reached with private owners, with the aim of establishing a genuine partnership to attract investment and sponsors.\u201d<\/p>\n

The only barrier would be he’d have to step away from the Dragons if he was to become WRU chair.<\/p>\n

Martyn Phillips<\/p>\n

Former WRU chief executive Martyn Phillips and chairman Gareth Davies(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)<\/p>\n

Phillips has experience in Welsh rugby, having previously been CEO of the WRU for five years.<\/p>\n

The man from Pembrokeshire<\/a>, a former boss of retail giant B&Q, saw his tenure coincide with Wales reaching a World Cup semi-final and winning another Six Nations<\/a> Grand Slam on the field.<\/p>\n

Off the field, there were record turnovers for the union, while there was a rare period of success at regional level with the Scarlets<\/a> winning the old PRO 12 and Cardiff<\/a> lifting the Challenge Cup.<\/p>\n

As CEO he put a huge amount of emphasis on building relationships with the four professional clubs and healing old wounds following the tumultuous reign of Roger Lewis.<\/p>\n

Phillips is currently the chair of PRL and would be a decent person to come back to guide the CEO.<\/p>\n

Carwyn Jones<\/p>\n

Former First Minister for Wales Carwyn Jones(Image: Gruffydd Thomas\/Huw Evans Agency)<\/p>\n

The former First Minister for Wales is a huge rugby fan and has previously been interviewed for the role of chair but missed out to Collier-Keywood back in 2023.<\/p>\n

Jones is thought to be hugely popular with many community clubs and many within the game favour the former First Minister becoming WRU chair.<\/p>\n

The 59-year-old has no experience in elite rugby but could help improve the WRU’s reputation with the Welsh Government<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Moving forward, many would argue it is essential that the WRU works with the Welsh Government to improve the game at all levels.<\/p>\n

Clearly Jones could help the WRU in this regard, but whatever happens next some tough decisions need to be made to fix the men’s professional game.<\/p>\n

Andrew Williams\"Andrew<\/p>\n

Andrew Williams<\/p>\n

The former Cardiff board member is a serious operator and is heavily respected throughout the game.<\/p>\n

Williams is currently an independent non-executive director on the WRU board who understands the professional game and what needs to be done to put it on a firm footing.<\/p>\n

The wider Welsh public does not understand how much of a coup it is to have an A-lister like Williams on the board.<\/p>\n

He was the longest serving FTSE 100 CEO in the UK at Halma PLC, where he stayed for 18 years.<\/p>\n

Williams helped Halma grow from a business worth \u00a3500m into a company worth \u00a310bn.<\/p>\n

He would have the respect and trust of all key stakeholders, and he is also the right man to drive change.<\/p>\n

Gareth Davies<\/p>\n

The appointment of the former Wales outside-half would bring one of the most respected administrators in the game back to the fore. He previously served six years as chair of the WRU.<\/p>\n

During his tenure, Davies worked diligently to modernise the WRU\u2019s governance, reducing the board from 24 members to 12 and appointing high-profile non-executive directors, including Amanda Blanc.<\/p>\n

He also sought to streamline the structure by reducing the nine districts to four in a further effort to modernise governance, but was ultimately forced out amid what many regard as the archaic and self-serving culture within Welsh rugby.<\/a><\/p>\n

Davies combines deep rugby knowledge with a strong grasp of business, making him a compelling candidate.<\/p>\n

He is also a figure capable of rebuilding trust.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Mathias<\/p>\n

The appointment of Jennifer Mathias would represent a credible and financially astute option.<\/p>\n

Mathias, who hails from Pembrokeshire, has served on the board of the Welsh Rugby Union as an independent non-executive director since October 2023.<\/p>\n

She previously held the role of group chief financial officer at Rathbones Group, a \u00a31.2 billion wealth management business listed on the London Stock Exchange.<\/p>\n

\"WRU<\/p>\n

WRU board member Jennifer Mathias(Image: Rathbones)<\/p>\n

Mathias has also worked at Lloyds TSB Group, where she occupied a number of senior management positions.<\/p>\n

In 2013, she was named in the PAM Top 40 Under 40.<\/p>\n

She is well placed to succeed Richard Collier-Keywood and would represent a strong choice were the priority to improve the WRU\u2019s financial position.<\/p>\n

Critics of the WRU\u2019s proposals to reduce the number of professional clubs to three have frequently argued that the governing body has lacked sufficient transparency in its financial dealings.<\/p>\n

Whatever structure Welsh rugby ultimately adopts, it will be dictated by financial realities, and Mathias would constitute a compelling option.<\/p>\n

Hayley Parsons<\/p>\n

Parsons is arguably Wales’ most successful female entrepreneur and was previously on the Cardiff Rugby Board.<\/p>\n

She founded Go.Compare and has helped build many successful Welsh businesses.<\/p>\n

Parsons is a vocal critic of current chair, Collier-Keywood, so you can expect her approach to be the polar opposite if she were his successor.<\/p>\n

\"Hayley<\/p>\n

Hayley Parsons<\/p>\n

“The Chair is extremely skilled in the world of government, consultancy and law, but that\u2019s not what the WRU needs at the moment,” wrote Parsons in a letter sent to community clubs.<\/p>\n

“We need people who understand how to engage with people \u2013 with WRU staff, community and regional rugby fans and stakeholders to bring them along on this journey.<\/p>\n

“Spending millions of pounds on unnecessary consultants and legal fees will not repair the reputational damage this is causing Welsh rugby.<\/p>\n

“This money should be ploughed back into the game. I believe we have some extremely credible and talented people on the WRU board who are more than capable of safeguarding the future of Welsh rugby.<\/p>\n

“When you run a business, you have to make tough decisions and, what is crucial to the success of any strategic change is how you follow the process and treat the people affected.”<\/p>\n

That’s a flavour of what to expect if Parsons was chair.<\/p>\n

Rob Regan\"Former<\/p>\n

Former Principality Building Society chief operating officer Rob Regan<\/p>\n

The former chief operating officer at Principality is hugely passionate about Welsh rugby and has been meeting a number of key stakeholders within the game.<\/p>\n

Along with a number of prominent figures, Regan has worked hard to put together an alternative plan for Welsh rugby.<\/a><\/p>\n

Regan’s key principles would be built on repairing relationships and regaining trust with the key stakeholders in Welsh rugby.<\/p>\n

He would certainly be a popular appointment.<\/p>\n

Alison Thorne<\/p>\n

WRU independent non-executive director Alison Thorne, right(Image: WRU)<\/p>\n

If the WRU board want to go for continuity, then Thorne would be a serious contender given she is currently the Senior Independent Director.<\/p>\n

Thorne has been on the WRU board for nearly three years so understands the pitfalls of Welsh rugby along with the true financial position.<\/p>\n

Away from rugby Throne is the chair of the National Dance Company Wales and Barcud Housing Association.<\/p>\n

Thorne has also been a chair of leading equality charity Chwarae Teg and is the lead in Wales for Women on Boards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The WRU will soon start the search for a new chair 07:34, 29 Mar 2026Updated 09:40, 29 Mar…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":501782,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[5903,101,56,54,55,9051],"class_list":["post-501781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-rugby","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-welsh-rugby-union"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=501781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/501781\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/501782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=501781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=501781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=501781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}