The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has appointed its first female chief executive in Abi Tierney.

Tierney replaces Steve Phillips who resigned in January 2023 after allegations of sexism at the WRU following a BBC Wales investigation.

She said: “I relish the chance to make a lasting positive difference at such a critical time.”

Nigel Walker held an interim role but has since been appointed the WRU’s first executive director of rugby.

It would be the second major appointment after Richard Collier-Keywood became the first WRU independent chair when he replaced the elected Ieuan Evans.

Tierney is due to take the post before the end of the year.

“Abi’s appointment is a major coup for Welsh rugby,” said Collier-Keywood.

“She has worked successfully across the private and public sectors in delivering commercial value and improving the culture of some complex organisations.

“Her mantra of ‘putting customers at the heart of everything we do’ bodes well for the many fans of rugby in Wales.”

Who is Abi Tierney?

Tierney is director general leading customer services and was appointed to the role of Home Office ethics adviser in June 2023.

Before joining the Civil Service, Tierney was the business development director at Serco Health where she was responsible for providing strategic direction to help the business grow.

She also held a number of operational roles in Serco, including regional director and chief executive of Suffolk Community Services.

Tierney was a director at University Hospitals of Leicester and Aberdeen City Council, and was previously marketing leader for IBM’s global services business.

Her father played rugby for Glamorgan Wanderers and Barry and described the WRU appointment as an “immense privilege”.

She added: “My passion and commitment for this role is unquestionable and I feel a huge sense of pride having grown up in a family where rugby has been a constant and positive force in our lives.

“Rugby has the ability to enable life chances and develop people on and off the pitch. In this role, I intend to take that heritage and the skills and learning I have gathered in my career to deliver the significant cultural advancement Welsh rugby deserves.

“I have a track record in positively shaping an organisation’s culture. I will do my utmost to promote belonging, trust, understanding and mutual support at all levels in Welsh rugby.”

WRU reform

Walker was thrust into the WRU interim role following Phillips’ departure after a BBC Wales Investigates programme raised allegations of misogyny and sexism in Welsh rugby’s governing body.

Former Wales international Walker had initially been interested in the permanent role but says he withdrew his interest “at an early stage”.

Walker campaigned alongside former WRU chair Evans for governance modernisation which was passed with a 97% majority at an extraordinary general meeting in March 2023, which paved the way for Collier-Keywood’s appointment.

Walker also helped guide the WRU through the current independent review taskforce process and was instrumental in negotiating a new six-year Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) with Wales’ four regional teams.

Former judge Dame Anne Rafferty is chairing a panel conducting a review into the WRU’s conduct which begun in February.

The panel includes former England international and World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi and mediator Quentin Smith, a former chair of Sale Sharks and current chair of the Football Association’s exceptions panel.

The WRU said recommendations and findings from previous reviews will be used to inform the investigation, but the new taskforce will not be asked to duplicate work previously done.

The panel will produce a report and make recommendations which will be published in full.