WRU Council
The WRU Council is made up of all elected National Council members and all elected District Council members, these are as follows;
Colin Charvis
John Manders
Claire Donovan
Anthony Buchanan
Sue Butler
Bryn Parker – Joined the Board in 2016 and is now a District Council Member for District A.
During a productive playing career, he played for Blaenavon, Pontypool, Talywain, Garndiffaith and Croesyceiliog. He has also managed and coached Blaenavon, Talywain, Garndiffaith and Croesyceiliog.
He was honorary secretary of Cwmbran from 2006 – 2018, is now a Life member and a member of the Committee. He has been team manager of Monmouthshire County since 2004.
He is a Level 2 Coach. He works in various schools, supporting children of all ages, abilities and behaviours. He was formerly a senior technical process operator and training officer. He has also been a children’s mentor/ co-ordinator for Children in Need.
He is a former community councillor and was appointed chair of the Pontypool Community Council in 2016 and is a former School Governor.
Colin Wilks – Joined the Board in November 2021. He is also a District Council Member for District A, and current chair of the WRU Competitions Management Committee.
A former director, chairman and secretary at Risca RFC, Colin also served as director at the Dragons region for two years from 2021 – 2023.
Now retired, his business background was as a manager in both the mining, and steel industries, spanning both manufacturing and commercial sectors.
A former School Governor, he is a University of Glamorgan engineering graduate and holds a postgraduate degree in business administration from the University of Wales.
Lloyd Morgan
Gwyn Bowden – Played for Taffs Well, Beddau and Rhiwbina, later taking on the roles of fixture secretary and chairman of Taffs Well, where he is a life member.
Became a WRU Referee in 1980 and progressed to premier grade before retiring in 1999, later becoming a referee’s adviser/coach.
In more recent times, he has officiated as a Citing Commissioner at games in the PRO12, European Cup and internationals, joining the WRU Board in 2015.
Now retired, he was self-employed in the manufacture of purpose made furniture and was a senior design consultant for a national company
Roy Wilkinson
Rob Butcher – Butcher spent two years as Chair of the Welsh Rugby Union from 2020, helping steer the business through the challenges of the pandemic and was re-appointed to the WRU Council in 2022.
He first joined the Board in October 2015 and was re-elected to the Board in November 2019. During this period he was appointed as Chair of the Competitions Committee and later Chair of the Community Rugby Board. He is also one of the District Council Member for District C.
He is a one club man having been associated with Bargoed RFC since leaving school in the late 1960’s and recently accepted life membership of the club. He was the captain for five successive years from the mid to late 1970’s. Once his playing career ended, he joined the club’s committee. With an unbroken service with his beloved Bargoed, and in 2015 he completed a 22nd year as club honorary secretary.
On leaving college he took up a teaching post within Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council and enjoyed a career in education until his retirement.
Steve Owens
Kerry Frey
Jeff Davies – Joined in 2019 as a District Council Member for District E. He is a director and chair of Seven Sisters Rugby Club Ltd and has been a Community Councillor of Seven Sisters for over 12 years.
A qualified level 3 coach, he is a former player, captain and was integral in setting up Women’s Youth and Girls Rugby in the club. The club now also runs the Valley Hawkes Girls Hub.
As the chairperson for Seven Sisters for over 10 years he guided them to become a limited company.
He is also chair of the Dulais Valley Food Bank, a director of the Community Hall Association Of Seven Sisters Ltd and works as a Business Development Manager for DANSA LTD, which provides wheelchair accessible transport services to communities in the Dulais, Afan, Neath, Swansea & Amman Valleys.
Phil Thomas – Joined the Board in 2015 and was re-elected to the Board in March 2019, following the transition period for the governance changes that were approved at the 2018 AGM.
He is also a District Council Member for District E. From Clydach, he is a former Wales Schools U16 international and played youth rugby for Morriston before joining Vardre where he became club secretary, vice chair and then chair in 2012.
Awarded life membership by the club in 2020. He retired in 2018 after 40 years’ service in the Finance Department of the City and County of Swansea
Kevin Lewis
Chris Jones – Joined the Board in 2018 and is now a District Council Member for District G.
A one club man, he was a founding member of Newcastle Emlyn and has been its Secretary since its formation in 1977.
He is a life member of the club as well as a past player, captain and coach.
He is a former coach to the Welsh Schools Intermediate (Under 16) international side.
He also chaired the Intermediate Group and the Schools Council.
He represented the Schools on the old WRU Committee.
Educated at Llandysul Grammar School and Loughborough Colleges, he taught PE for 35 years until his retirement in 2010.
Delyth Summons
Alun Roberts – Was elected as a District Council Member for District J in September 2021.
He is a director and founder member of Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon having begun his involvement as a player, he became a coach, secretary and committee member and is a former chair, and is currently the President.
He is also former chair of the North Wales Rugby Union Council, and continues to be a member of the Executive.
He retired from full time employment with BT/Openreach in 2018 after 37 years of service, including as project manager for the rollout of Superfast Broadband across Wales.
He now volunteers at Hosbis Dewi Saint.
