Planet Rugby Forum

Short Man Syndrome wrote:The only thing trying harder to desperately cling on to life and structure than Ellis' knee is this thread.

New guy wrote:Reading that article, I'd forgotten how many Welsh players had serious long term injuries.

Hopefully the break has done them all good.

Short Man Syndrome wrote:It's a strange, in-betweeny sort of existence but - much like my present experiment with growing the ends of my moustache out so I can wax them into curls like Dahli - I'm just not ready to give PR up yet.

Frodder wrote:Right guys it's clear we can't keep 2 threads going. Do we go all in on NPR?

Derwyn wrote:Some wonderful weather we’re having.

Just saw a chinook fly over. Clear skies. Wonderful sight.

As for this NPR nonsense. Pah! It won’t last. They’ll all come running back. It’s mainly populated by the clique. A clique that has been dwindling in numbers for a few years now. Not sustainable!

You won’t find me on there. Nope. Nuh-uh. Not for me.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... y-18677822

The woman working in the shadows of Welsh rugby who's just emerged as the frontrunner for the top job at WRU
Interviews have been held to find a successor to the WRU's outgoing chief executive Martyn Phillips, with a shortlist of five leading candidates drawn up

ByAndy Howell
12:25, 29 JUL 2020UPDATED17:29, 29 JUL 2020
SPORT

Welsh Rugby Union operations director Julie Paterson at the Principality Stadium
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Julie Paterson is the frontrunner to succeed Martyn Phillips and become the first woman to be chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union in its 139-year history, WalesOnline has learned.

Phillips had been due to leave his post months ago but has temporarily stayed on to tackle the financial crisis the WRU are facing following the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the process to replace him has continued with a shortlist of five leading candidates being drawn up.

Paterson, who started work 31 years ago aged 19 as an entry level accountant at the WRU, is on that list and has emerged as a prime candidate for the top job in the Welsh game.

Paterson works in Welsh rugby's shadows as the WRU's operations directors and has a huge involvement in matters from top to bottom of the game.

She has had an increasingly influential role and WRU chairman Gareth Davies has repeatedly stated his desire for more diversity.


Paterson fits the bill and is the longest serving member of the WRU’s executive board, having been appointed to it 14 years ago.

She also sits on the WRU's Community Rugby Board, which looks after the club scene, and the Professional Rugby Board which oversees the regional game.

The PRB consists of representatives from Cardiff Blues, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets, and the WRU. It is responsible for, among other things, the country's pay bands, wage negotiations and settling disputes. Paterson is directly involved in those decision-making processes.

Paterson also represents Wales at World Rugby, European and Guinness PRO14 level.

Virtually everything that happens behind the scenes in Welsh rugby, whether it’s regulatory, medical, insurance or integrity matters, crosses her desk.

She was at the hub of the investigation into the betting scandal which saw Wales assistant coach Rob Howley sent home from last year's World Cup in Japan and subsequently suspended from the sport after he admitted breaching World Rugby's strict regulations on gambling.

Paterson's wide brief also involves helping bring huge non-rugby events to the Principality Stadium.

In a previous interview with WalesOnline, Paterson said: “I go from dealing with boxing promoter Frank Warren one week to Pontypool Rugby Club the following week.”

She explained what it was like being a woman in what has largely been a male-dominated industry.

“The Frank Warrens of this world and the external promoters from London don’t have a problem with a woman being in charge," said Paterson.

“But in Wales it’s different, although I don’t take offence. I went to a rugby club to give a presentation and this chap came up to me and said: ‘Look, lovely, can you get the tea and coffee on because the bigwigs from the WRU will be here soon?’

“I said: ‘By the way, I’m Julie from the WRU’. The look on his face was brilliant when he realised who I was. He said: ‘Look, I didn’t realise you’d be a woman’.”

In a more recent interview with The Rugby Paper, Paterson said: “That sort of thing was absolutely standard back then, but you’ve got to laugh at it.

“I use that story as a way of showing what’s changed. There is no way people would be like that with me now.

"There is not a single union that questions me turning up or the role I play.”

Paterson said rugby has “grown out of sight” compared to when she started work at the WRU in 1989 and was “unrecognisable” from what it was back then.

She pointed out the outbreak of coronavirus has given the sport a chance to form a plan to make it economically sustainable.

“This is an opportunity to get things right and turn a negative into a positive,” she said.

“As a sport it has allowed us time to take a step back to look at ways of shoring up the ship so we can come out of the other side of this not just in Wales, but globally too.”


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Paterson has been joined in Welsh rugby’s corridors of power by Amanda Blanc, Aileen Richards, Marianne Okland and Liza Burgess as female representation has increased.

She stressed: “My passion is no less than it was and it doesn’t feel like the job is done.

“I’m 30 years in, but there is always the next thing coming over the horizon.”

Roberts becomes Ryan’s latest signing, following in the footsteps of Wales pair Jonah Holmes and Nick Tompkins, and Welsh-qualified lock Joe Maksymiw.

Wales Six Nations lock find Will Rowlands is set to join from Wasps and new Welsh-qualified prop Greg Bateman from Leicester Tigers.

Jeff the Bear wrote:According to the Wail:

Roberts becomes Ryan’s latest signing, following in the footsteps of Wales pair Jonah Holmes and Nick Tompkins, and Welsh-qualified lock Joe Maksymiw.

Wales Six Nations lock find Will Rowlands is set to join from Wasps and new Welsh-qualified prop Greg Bateman from Leicester Tigers.

The last two seem pretty definitive. You've got to wonder how big the sofa is that the Dragons have managed to find so much cash down the back of. Maybe DAC has won the lottery and following his dream of making the Dragons the best team in Europe.

Theflier wrote:Have they not learnt their lessons on signing aged returning welsh players, especially those who've never thrived at club level. Their midfield is now two guys on 1 year deals in what will be the busiest international season ever. Moronic.

Derwyn wrote:

Theflier wrote:Have they not learnt their lessons on signing aged returning welsh players, especially those who've never thrived at club level. Their midfield is now two guys on 1 year deals in what will be the busiest international season ever. Moronic.

Very much this.

Tomcyns is one that really doesn’t make sense what with all the internationals planned.

And as for Jaw? An ageing player that is well past his best. Will be available all season though, I guess.

Having said all that I am happy with Holmes. And I’ll be really happy with Bateman and Rowlands

Theflier wrote:as Ive said before, crying shame between him and halaholo they have 8 daughters and no sons

7N31 wrote:Looks like Anscombe won't play for the rest of this year, if ever. Ospreys may well have a player for 2 years before he makes his debut.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... y-18728914

Frodder wrote:

7N31 wrote:Looks like Anscombe won't play for the rest of this year, if ever. Ospreys may well have a player for 2 years before he makes his debut.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... y-18728914

That's a real shame for the lad.

Theflier wrote:He'll be nigh on 30, most likely Japan. Shame, one of, if not, the most talented ball player I've ever seen

Theflier wrote:He'll be nigh on 30, most likely Japan. Shame, one of, if not, the most talented ball player I've ever seen

New guy wrote:

Theflier wrote:He'll be nigh on 30, most likely Japan. Shame, one of, if not, the most talented ball player I've ever seen

Now dont get me wrong, I like Anscombe but I wouldn't go that far.

One of the most talented fly halves to play for Wales in my lifetime sure but lets be honest here if he was that talented he'd have worn black not red.