Wales Rugby League statement: Richard Hibbard appointed as new CEO

Former Wales rugby union hooker Richard Hibbard has crossed codes to become the new CEO at Wales Rugby League. The retired 40-year-old, who toured Australia with the 2013 British and Irish Lions, enjoyed a stellar 19-year career as a union professional player.

However, he has now rekindled an interest in league that stemmed from winning a 2003 Four Nations cap with Dragonhearts, the community game’s rep side in Wales, and playing for Aberavon Fighting in the first-ever Welsh grand final that same year.

A statement read: “Wales Rugby League are delighted to announce the appointment of Richard Hibbard as our new chief executive officer. An entrepreneur from Port Talbot, Richard owns two restaurants in his hometown and has successfully launched the ‘Mortal Bunny Rum’ brand.

“Richard enjoyed a successful 19-year playing career in rugby union, winning 38 caps and two Six Nations titles for Wales. He toured Australia with the British and Irish Lions in 2013, starting the decisive Third test in Sydney.

“He played for Ospreys, Gloucester, Dragons, Aberavon, and Swansea, plus Crawshays and the Barbarians in a distinguished club and representative career which saw domestic and European success.

“His passion for rugby league pre-dates his rugby union career, earning a cap for Wales Dragonhearts – the representative side of the community game in Wales, helping them to win the Four Nations in 2003. He also played for Aberavon Fighting Irish in the first-ever Wales Rugby League grand final in 2003.

“Richard’s role will be particularly focused on creating partnerships that can support the development of the sport at all levels, from grassroots to senior international sides.”

Hibbard said: “I’m delighted to join Wales Rugby League. Rugby league has always been important to me and I would have loved to have had a season or two as a player. But now I’m presented with the next best thing – an amazing opportunity to bring awareness of the rich talent we have in our country.

“I want to grow the sport of league in Wales the right way, from the bottom up, and shaping the game that’s right for Wales, creating opportunities both within the community to elite levels, built on strong foundations.

“To do that, we’ll all need to work together. Integral to that will be strengthening relationships with our stakeholders, and creating new partnerships and relationships that are mutually beneficial. And we can never forget our strongest asset – the community of players, families, and supporters”

James Davies, chair of Wales Rugby League, added: “I’m thrilled to have Richard join us as we strive to develop and strengthen as a governing body. What Richard has achieved both as a player and a businessman has been impressive.

“We believe the attributes and characteristics he brings are aligned with our vision and cultural journey. He knows what being involved in an elite environment looks like and the importance of a strong balance sheet to support this.

“Richard will aim to create new partnerships that help us to achieve the vision – from providing more people with the opportunity to play the game in Wales, to successful representative teams that can showcase our nation on the international stage.

“Richard impressed the board during our discussions, and he knows the importance of creating a strong brand that people want to be involved in or associated with. We as a board understand that we have great people within the performance side of the governing body who will now be supported by our recent appointment of Clive Griffiths as director of performance.

“We also recognise the need to be more commercially focused where we build reciprocal partnerships which not only allow our game to grow but benefit the businesses and institutions we partner with too.

“We all know there is lots of hard work ahead of us, but Richard’s appointment along with that of some new board members in recent weeks, we believe we have the right foundations in place so we can build a sustainable high-performing governing body both on and off the field for the future.”