The man who just emerged as 'the most powerful person in Welsh rugby'

Is Richard Collier-Keywood now the most powerful man in Welsh rugby? Many high up in the game certainly seem to think so. Steffan Thomas reports

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‘Richard Collier-Keywood is now without a shadow of a doubt the most powerful person in Welsh rugby” was how one high-ranking figure in the game recently described the current independent chair of the Welsh Rugby Union.

‘This is a view which is often put forward, but is it actually the case? Collier-Keywood is a little over two years into his role as independent chair but the next 12 months will shape not only the future of Welsh rugby but also his own legacy.

‘The 64-year-old’s three-year term comes to an end in 2026 and under recent changes to the governance model, the independent chair can only serve two terms.

Collier-Keywood will leave a lasting legacy but whether it is a good or a bad one will be determined over the next year.

He might not be winning any popularity contests at the moment after the WRU revealed that its “optimal structure” for the professional game is a reduction from four to two professional men’s teams based on central control, but his CV is mightily impressive.

Collier-Keywood is a former UK managing partner and global vice-chair of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and a senior adviser to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

He is also chair of Fair4All Finance, while he is on the board of the National Lottery Community Fund and Women of the World.

Not a bad CV at all, then.

Collier-Keywood was originally only supposed to work two days a month and his job was quite literally to chair the board, but things have changed dramatically over the past month.

‘The WRU’s CEO Abi Tierney has understandably decided to take time off work to focus on her recovery from cancer.

“In my role as chair, I will continue to have overall responsibility for the WRU and in order to provide cover and give Abi the space she needs, will be more involved in the immediate future,’ said Collier-Keywood when the WRU announced Tierney’s situation.