Walker steps down as WRU executive director of rugby

Nigel Walker first joined the WRU as performance director in July 2021

Nigel Walker has left his role as the Welsh Rugby Union's executive director of rugby.

The 61-year-old was appointed to the post in July 2023, although he continued as interim chief executive officer until Abi Tierney took the permanent role officially in January 2024.

Huw Bevan, who is currently interim head of performance, and community director Geraint John will assume Walker's duties in the short term, with a new director of professional rugby to be recruited in the New Year.

Walker's decision to step down follows what the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has termed a "meticulous and far-reaching review" into the high-performance element of the men's game, which has confirmed that Warren Gatland will continue as head coach of the Wales senior men's side despite a record 12-Test losing run.

"This decision has not been made lightly as I have cherished my time at the Welsh Rugby Union immensely, but it's time for a new leader for the performance department," said Walker.

"My tenure has not been without its challenges and we have achieved a great amount but, ultimately, it is right that I am judged on performances on the pitch and both of our senior teams have found the last 12 months extremely difficult and therefore I believe now is the right time for me to step down."

Walker, Tierney and chair Richard Collier-Keywood have overseen a turbulent period in the WRU's history, with Welsh rugby's governing body saying in November it would apologise for its handling of contract negotiations with the senior women's team after admitting "serious failings".

Collier-Keywood said that Walker, who was involved in the initial negotiations, had accepted "things should have been done better".

The row came less than a year after a damning independent review into the WRU's culture following a BBC Wales investigation found it was sexist, misogynistic, racist and homophobic, with those aspects not properly challenged.

That led to Steve Phillips resigning as WRU chief executive in January 2023, with Walker taking over the reins temporarily.

Walker was appointed as the WRU performance director in July 2021 and was a strong influence in the first batch of women's professional contracts awarded later that year.

He campaigned alongside former WRU chair Ieuan Evans for governance modernisation, which was passed with a 97% majority at an extraordinary general meeting in March 2023.

Former Wales and Cardiff wing Walker helped guide the WRU through the 2023 independent review process and was instrumental in negotiating a new six-year Professional Rugby Agreement (PRA) with Wales' four regions.

"These are fast moving times, we have launched a new headline strategy for Welsh rugby which is inextricably linked to a new Professional Rugby Agreement with our four regional clubs," Walker added.

"We are changing the management structure in our high-performance team with respect to our senior Wales Women squad, with a new head coach to be appointed soon.

"In the senior men's game there is much scrutiny of the role of our high-performance department and how its systems and structures can best enable success for all of our professional teams.

"All of these workstreams, when completed, will help enable success for Welsh rugby and I am proud of the contributions I have made in each space. Welsh rugby will prosper again."

Walker's CV includes rising from BBC Cymru Wales head of sport to head of change and internal communications in the corporation, before 11 years as national director of the English Institute of Sport (EIS).

He also previously served on the Cardiff Rugby board, but stepped down when he joined the WRU.

Tierney praised Walker's contribution during his term at Welsh rugby's governing body, saying he had left a "legacy to the women's game".

"Nigel leaves Welsh rugby with a wide range of significant achievements both in the Wales Women's senior game and also throughout the performance department, where he has made advancements which will be significant for our future success," she said.

"We are particularly pleased with the work he has done over the last 12 months in joining up the performance team with the community team, leading to new and better pathways for the men's game that will pay significant dividends over the next few years.

"We are grateful for his contribution to our game, but we respect his decision to move on and hand over the reins to a new leader.

"Nigel will always be remembered as the interim CEO who led Welsh rugby with dignity and grace through one of its most difficult periods"

"He has also been instrumental in negotiating a new PRA with our member clubs.

"We must not forget that his legacy to the women's game in Wales was to introduce the first professional contracts over two years ago, and he has contributed significantly to the WRU's evolution into professional rugby for our senior women's team."