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Premiership unveil the perfect weapon in battle for control of English rugby
By Chris Jones
England’s top professional clubs have found the perfect weapon in their on-going battle for control of the game by appointing Ian Ritchie, the former Rugby Football Union chief executive, as their new chairman.
It is a clever move, giving Premiership Rugby a unique insight into how the RFU works and how it wants to shape the future of the game in England – a strategy Ritchie led during his five years in charge of the biggest and richest union in the sport. Ritchie handed over the CEO role to Stephen Brown, of his former key advisors at the RFU last May.
Besides his five-year tenure at the RFU, which included hosting the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Ritchie is the former CEO of the All England Club which stages the Wimbledon championships, was a non-executive director at the Football League and Wembley Stadium and has vast experience of television rights negotiations.
He was elected unanimously by the Premiership Rugby Board of Directors for a two-year term which will start next month and Semore Kurdi, current Chairman and the owner of Newcastle Falcons said, "I'm delighted that Ian has agreed to become Chairman. We are in a period of significant domestic and international growth for the club game, with this weekend’s big Aviva Premiership Rugby matches just one example, as they will be seen in some 200 countries around the world.
"Ian will undoubtedly add to our ability to realise the full potential of the league. I have enjoyed my time in the Chair and I look forward to working with him through this next phase."
Ritchie said: "Premiership Rugby has become one of the foremost competitions in professional sport and I'm pleased to be taking the Chair at this time. Clearly, the partnership with the RFU is central to the success of both club and country and I look forward to helping ensure its success.
"I take over the Chairmanship with Premiership Rugby in great shape and I would like to record my appreciation of Semore’s role over the last two years in the continued success of Aviva Premiership Rugby. I look forward to helping build on this."
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Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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