Martyn Phillips, who takes over as the chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union in October after a successful business career that saw him take charge of B&Q, has pledged to make the governing body more inclusive.
Phillips, a 46-year-old former Wales schoolboy international who has in recent years been involved in the game at academy level in Hampshire, paid tribute to the man he will succeed after the World Cup, Roger Lewis, and said one of his goals would be to help keep the top players in Wales by helping the country’s four regions become successful in Europe.
The WRU has been accused of being elitist but Phillips said he would spend the months before he takes up his position in Cardiff speaking to those involved in the game at all levels, something he intends to continue to do when he starts work.
“It is all about looking to the future, not back to the past, and my style is to listen and build up working relationships,” Phillips said. “I know there will be some thorny issues but I am big on reaching agreements and giving people a lot of space.
“Welsh rugby is a strong brand and my job will be to ensure that there are improvements at every level so that we get even better. Roger Lewis is leaving a strong foundation and I will be looking at what we are doing from the grassroots all the way up.”
A number of Wales’s leading players are based in England and France. George North is entering the final year of his contract with Northampton and Phillips said he would like the wing to return to the regional game.
“I do not think we will ever be in a position like England where we say that players have to be based here to play for Wales,” he said. “We are a smaller country, for a start, and there will always be players who want to experience life elsewhere for a while.
“Getting the likes of George back to Wales is not all about money. We have to show players will extend their careers here because they will be looked after and it is important that we develop programmes that ensure they will have a career when they finish playing.”