Ieuan Evans elected Welsh Rugby Union's new chairman
- Published
Ieuan Evans scored 33 tries for Wales over 11 years of international rugby
Former Wales and British and Irish Lions wing Ieuan Evans has been appointed chair of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).
Evans, who also chairs the Lions board, takes over from Rob Butcher who stood down after two years in the post.
The 58-year-old has served as vice-chair since 2021 and was promoted to the top job of Welsh rugby's governing body on Monday.
"It is a huge honour for me to take up the position," Evans said.
"I fully intend to repay member clubs and my fellow directors for the faith they have shown in me.
"That means taking up the mantle for governance reform set in motion by my predecessors with both hands and driving change for the better in Welsh rugby."
The former Carmarthen Quins, Llanelli and Bath player was elected as a national council member of the WRU in 2020 and immediately elected onto the board.
He already represents Welsh rugby on the World Rugby Council and will continue his Lions role alongside his new position.
Evans has his work cut out from day one - with the national men's side having endured a disappointing 2022, with just three wins, while Wayne Pivac's future as head coach has come under intense scrutiny.
The regions and the community game are also struggling.
But Evans said: "We have much to be proud of in our community game, where our clubs are the hubs of the cities, towns and villages in which they reside.
"Just as we should continue to be ambitious and proud of our achievements in the professional game, but we also know we must evolve and progress.
"The Welsh Rugby Union has one central mission to ensure sustainability and success throughout our game and this will be my mantra in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
"We must listen, we must effect change where necessary and we must continue to strive to be so much greater than the sum of our parts."
Ieuan Evans captained Wales to the Five Nations Championship in 1994
WRU chief executive officer Steve Phillips said Evans is a "hugely popular and significant figure" in the Board room and well respected in world rugby.
"These are exciting times for Welsh rugby and there is much to do and we are delighted to be able to appoint a figurehead of Ieuan's stature, who knows our game inside out," Phillips said.
"I know he has strong views about governance modernisation alongside the rest of the board and fully understands our professional game.
"I know his impact will be immediate in terms of the style and acumen he will bring to the position of chair. I am very much looking forward to working with him as we chart the future for our game together."
Evans made his first international appearance with Wales against France in 1987 and toured with the Lions in 1989, 1993 and 1997.
His career highlights include scoring the decisive series-winning try in the third Lions Test against Australia in 1989 and his four tries during the 1993 Tour to New Zealand.
Evans was recognised for his illustrious career when he received an MBE for services to rugby in 1996, inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007 and later into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014.
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