Famous Five seek WRU Presidency

They each secured the backing of at least two WRU clubs for their names to go forward to the full and final ballot.

Nominations closed last Friday and today (Monday) ballot papers were being sent out to all 241 of the Union’s clubs, all four regions and the 21 WRU associate members by Walter Hunter and Co for their final vote.

The five candidates seeking election for the post are the former WRU Secretary Denis Gethin, ex-internationals Tony Gray, Dennis Hughes and JPR Williams and ex-WRU and Millennium Stadium Chairman Glanmor Griffiths.

The formal closing date is three weeks away – Tuesday May 8th – and the name of the new President will be announced as soon as the votes are counted and confirmed by the external scrutineers. Whoever wins the nomination will serve until the WRU annual general meeting in October, when there will be another election for a further year in accordance with current Article 48 in the WRU constitution.

The election will be a first past the post ballot in accordance with the Union’s published voting procedures and all the candidates will be invited to attend the count at the headquarters of the WRU auditors, Walter Hunter and Co, in Newport.

The candidates are now all able to write to all the voting clubs, regions and associate members to canvass support. 

Ballot papers will be sent out by the scrutineers along with letters from the WRU explaining the election process, the ballot deadline and referring to election procedure details in the WRU Handbook. Club, region and associate organisation secretaries will discuss or debate the candidates internally within their organisations before casting their votes.

The election is taking place following the unfortunate death last November of the former Wales and British Lions player Keith Rowlands, who was renowned worldwide as both a former player and rugby administrator. The election of a new President was delayed until the end of the RBS Six Nations tournament as a mark of respect for Mr Rowlands and his family.

Mr Rowlands became President in 2004 in succession to Sir Tasker Watkins, who had held the post for 11 years. Sir Tasker, who is now Honorary Life Vice-Patron of the WRU, continues to carry out some of the functions normally performed by the President until one of the five candidates is elected in May.

The President is the senior figurehead of Welsh rugby and is empowered to attend all the major decision-making meetings within the Union’s senior structure.

“Keith Rowlands will be a tough act to follow, but the calibre of the nominees ensures that we will have a fine new President,” said the Welsh Rugby Union Chairman David Pickering.