WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood to step down in July

Daniel Bevan - Editor

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The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has confirmed that its independent chair, Richard Collier-Keywood, will step down at the end of his current term, triggering a formal recruitment process for his successor.

Collier-Keywood, who became the WRU’s first independent chair in 2023, said he would not seek a second term, with his tenure concluding on 16 July 2026.

Collier-Keywood said: “It has been a tremendous privilege to serve as the first independent WRU chair. My term as Chair comes to an end in July 2026 and I have been reflecting with the Board on what should happen next.

“We wanted to make this announcement to enable the recruitment process to start and before the EGM is held on 13 April 2026 so everyone goes into the EGM process with the benefit of the same knowledge.

“Over the course of the last few years, the new Board has made key decisions unanimously despite the very difficult choices we have had to face.

“I am fully committed to serving out the remainder of my term, subject of course, to the outcome of the EGM.

“The people I have had the pleasure of working with in the WRU and outside, and the importance of and passion for rugby in Wales, have been a source of continued inspiration to me in carrying out this role.

“I am pleased to leave with two Welsh head coaches in place with Steve Tandy and Sean Lynn and I am looking forward to watching from the terraces as our teams go from strength to strength.”

Collier-Keywood’s departure will mark the end of a three-year period defined by governance reform and financial restructuring at the WRU.

His appointment followed a vote in which 97 per cent of member clubs backed the introduction of an independent board.

Since then, the union has undertaken a programme of governance reform, overseen by an independent scrutineer, alongside efforts to stabilise its financial position.

Alison Thorne, senior independent director at the WRU, said: “On behalf of the Board I want to thank Richard for his incredible hard work and dedication over the last three years.

“He can be very proud of integrating and leading a new board of elected members and independent non-executives to create a new strategy and direction for a sustainable rugby future in Wales.

“He inherited a very difficult financial position and an organisation with cultural problems. He has led from the front in terms of culture change and significantly improved our financial position culminating in the refinancing in January 2026 as a platform for future stability and growth.

“Richard has built a genuinely diverse board that brings together expertise from Welsh rugby, from business and from the communities we serve.”

The WRU said it will now begin an open recruitment process to appoint a new independent chair, with further details on the role and selection criteria to be published in due course.