“Who would want the role outside the people who are already well known and used to being in the spotlight?”
The Welsh rugby observer who came up with those words was talking about the post of WRU chair which is set to see a new face after the decision of Rob Butcher not to re-apply for a board role with the governing body.
“It’s high profile and there’s a lot of comment on social media and in the mainstream media,” the observer continued.
“I’m not sure too many people unused to being in the limelight and being criticised publicly would want to have a go.”
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Who knows?
The job commands a lot of attention and can be the focus for a lot of frustration from supporters and figures in all tiers of Welsh rugby, but the temptation to have a go can sometimes prompt bold calls.
The health warning is that whoever pursues the position needs to be sure he or she has the experience and qualities to lead the strategy, business and governance of a company with a £100 million annual turnover.
Such sorts are not to be found on every street corner.
A WRU-led motion for the option of appointing an independent chair, not appointed by member clubs, failed at the governing body’s AGM on Sunday.
It means the current model will remain in place whereby the chair comes from the closed group of eight national and district council members who are already part of the main group of directors, with the board doing the voting.
Butcher’s departure means that group is down to seven at this point.
His replacement as head of the Community Game Board will bring their number back to eight.
From these, the new chair will be chosen.
Potentially, then, these are the individuals who’d be able to stand if the vote for a new chairman took place tomorrow.
Anthony Buchanan
The former Wales prop piled up 238 appearances for Llanelli and spent 15 years as team manager of the Scarlets, later acting as head of rugby of Llanelli in the Welsh Premiership. He also coached his home town club Ystradgynlais.
He was reappointed to the Welsh Rugby Union Board in 2022, having returned to the WRU Council a month earlier. He first served as a WRU Board and Council member from 2014 before standing down in 2019, when he was replaced by Lisa Burgess.
A retired company director and chairman of Llanelli Rugby Club, the 67-year-old has experience In business gained over a long period.
Ieuan Evans
The 58-year-old’s CV tells of a much-decorated playing career which saw him win 72 caps on the wing for Wales and play seven times for the British and Irish Lions. Evans also skippered Wales on 28 occasions between 1991 and 1995 before pursuing a successful career in the media and in ambassadorial work after finishing as a player.
Member clubs elected him as a WRU National Council member, with Evans the choice ahead of Gareth Davies and Nigel Davies. During his election campaign, Evans spoke to more than 200 of the union’s 332 member clubs. In December of last year he took over as the governing body’s vice-chairman.
Dave Young
Joined the board eight years ago.
Young played for Llandaff North and went on to become club secretary, being awarded life membership after 23 years of service. Formerly a selector, vice-chairman and competition secretary for the East District Rugby Union.
He is a retired chartered electrical engineer and former design and construction manager for Cardiff Council.
Phil Thomas
Hailing from Clydach, near Swansea, he is a former Wales Schools U16 international who played youth rugby for Morriston before joining Vardre where he became club secretary, vice-chairman and then chairman in 2012.
Works for the City and County of Swansea and was elected to the WRU Board by the District E clubs in 2015.
Chris Morgan
A former senior non-commissioned officer in the Royal Marines with 18 years’ experience, holding high-profile appointments during a distinguished career, he became part of the WRU Board in 2014.
Morgan played rugby for Glyncorrwg, Tonmawr and the Royal Marines, before moving into strength and conditioning coaching where he has worked at Premiership level with Swansea and Aberavon.
Also spent three years in the regional set up with the Ospreys senior squad and played a significant part in the management and coaching set up of the Wales Deaf Rugby team which won the World Cup in New Zealand in 2002.
Colin Wilks
A secretary, director and a former chair of Risca rugby club who led the club through its incorporation process, he is a level 3 coach who has has spent 47 years in rugby, firstly as a player, then referee, coach and now an administrator.
He has a business background as an experienced manager, working in the mining and metals industry in both manufacturing and commercial sectors. The engineering graduate also also has a postgraduate degree in business administration from the University of Wales and is a former school governor.
He is now retired. Joined the Board in 2019 as district council member for District A.
Chris Jones
A founding member of Newcastle Emlyn, Jones has been the club’s secretary since their formation in 1977 and is a life member as well as a past player, captain and coach.
He is a former coach to the Welsh Schools Intermediate (Under 16) International side and has also chaired the Intermediate Group and the Schools Council and represented the Schools on the old WRU general committee.
Educated at Llandysul Grammar School and Loughborough College, he taught PE for 35 years until his retirement in 2010.
Joined the Board in 2018 and is now a District Council Member for District G.
Plus…
Long story short.
Rob Butcher’s decision to stand down offers the possibility for one of the WRU Council members currently not on the main board to succeed him as Community Game Board head and so secure a place on the main WRU board in an elected post, thus offering the potential for him or her to run for the chairmanship of the governing body.
A complicated one to explain, admittedly.
There are potentially a dozen or so people who could opt to run via this route if interested.
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