RFU name the chair for its newly-created professional rugby board

Mike McTighe has been appointed chair of the newly-created professional rugby board (PRB), the RFU have announced. Joining McTighe on the board are independent non-executive directors Rachel Baillache and Ged Roddy.

The PRB has been created to oversee the professional game partnership (PGP), the recently announced eight-year agreement that is designed to deliver “world-leading English teams and thriving professional leagues”.

As part of the arrangement, England head coach Steve Borthwick has the scope to place up to 25 players on enhanced elite player squad contracts, giving him final say on their medical and sports science matters. Borthwick has so far issued 17 contracts.

Where there is a disagreement between Borthwick and a club over a player’s management, the independent PRB has the capacity to recommend that a decision is changed. The PRB is central to the operation of the PGP, which has been agreed by the RFU, Premiership Rugby and Rugby Players’ Association (RPA).

McTighe takes up his role as chair with immediate effect, bringing with him a “wealth of leadership, board and regulatory experience from both public and private companies”. He is chairman of Openreach Limited, Together Financial Services Limited and IG Group plc.

“It’s my privilege to be taking on this role at such an important time for English rugby,” McTighe said. “The enthusiasm from all quarters to reshape the men’s game is palpable. I look forward to getting to know better all the stakeholders in the coming days and weeks.”

Baillache is a senior independent director at the Lawn Tennis Association, a member of the committee of management for Wimbledon and is on the board at UK Sport and Somerset County Cricket Club.

Roddy was a member of the executive board of the FA Premier League and on the UK Sport Board and has also held senior leadership positions and non-executive board roles with the Lawn Tennis Association, Sport England, UK Sport, the English Institute of Sport, Sports Coach UK and FIFA.

The PRB will also comprise of eight voting members split across the RFU, Premiership Rugby and the RPA.