Sir James Wates, past chairman of Wates Group, replaces Sir Bill Beaumont as chair of the RFU board.
Wates has a long involvement in community rugby at Dorking RFC, where he played age grade and adult rugby, and where he is today an honorary vice president.聽 He is a lifelong England rugby fan and has been a debenture holder at Twickenham for years.
He is currently a board director of the Wates Group, having previously been chairman from 2013 to 2023, and is also chairman of Vestey Holdings and on the board for The King鈥檚 Trust 50th鈥疉nniversary Campaign.鈥� 鈥�
He has served in the past as chairman of Family Business UK, the Building Research Establishment Trust, the CBI Construction Council, the Construction Industry Training Board and Build UK.
In 2018, he was appointed by the government to chair the group developing corporate governance principles for large private companies (the so-called Wates Principles). In 2012 he was awarded the CBE and in 2019 was knighted for services to business and to charity.鈥� 鈥�
Polly Williams, senior independent director on the RFU Board, said: 鈥淲e are thrilled to announce that Sir James Wates will be joining the RFU Board as the new chair. It was a diligent process that took time to ensure that the right appointment was made.
鈥淗e was an outstanding candidate, unanimously chosen, and he will bring excellent leadership experience, a commitment to improve and grow the sport he loves and wide-ranging insight and knowledge in important areas including innovation, sustainability and technology.鈥�
鈥淗is industry experience will also be a significant asset as we seek to modernise and redevelop Allianz Stadium [Twickenham] in the coming years.鈥�
Sir James Wates said: 鈥淚t is a true honour to be named chair of the board of the RFU, and I can鈥檛 wait to get started.鈥� English Rugby is steeped in legacy and history, and it is a history that the country should be proud of, while also being excited about what is to come.鈥�� 鈥�
鈥淟ater this year, we have the Women鈥檚 Rugby World Cup hosted across England and I am looking forward to this happening so soon into my tenure.鈥��
鈥淚 will do my utmost to maximise the growth of the game, with the support of the RFU Board and wider team in the years ahead and engaging as much as possible in the rugby community at all levels across England."
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