WRU to appoint first woman CEO

The Welsh Rugby Union are to make history by appointing UK Government big hitter Abi Tierney as their new boss.

Tierney will become the WRU's first female chief executive, replacing Nigel Walker who held the role on an interim basis following Steve Phillips' resignation in January.

Her appointment comes on the back of the WRU facing fierce criticism following allegations of institutional misogyny and sexism. It is felt the appointment of a female CEO is a significant step in the right direction.

The WRU searched far and wide for Phillips' long-term successor with a number of excellent candidates understood to have been interviewed.

Among the contenders for the job were former Wales centre Andy Marinos, who has headed up Rugby Australia and held down a leading role with SANZAR.

Football Association of Wales bigwig Steve Dalton and Walker himself were also believed to initially be in the frame. So too was former Future Generations Commissioner for Wales Sophie Howe.

However, Tierney is said to have eclipsed them with her own hugely impressive vision for Welsh rugby.

Her CV is an impressive one. Tierney currently holds the role of Ethics Advisor at the Home Office, and has been Director General at HM Passport Office and UK Visas and Immigration.

She also held jobs as Regional Director and chief executive of Suffolk Community Services.

Her Linkedin profile states the Oxford graduate is skilled in operations management, strategic planning, business process improvement, stakeholder management and strategy.

Each of those will be in her in-tray as the new boss of the Welsh game.

Tierney will face a mountain of issues including dealing with the results of an independent taskforce led by Dame Anne Rafferty set up to investigate culture and behaviours within the WRU.

The state of the professional game will also be high on the agenda with the four regions - Cardiff, Scarlets, Ospreys and Dragons - in a precarious financial position amid poor results.