By COYSDC
July 8 2012

Bill Beaumont has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors of the RFU following the union's annual general meeting today.

The former England captain takes over from Paul Murphy, who becomes the new RFU President in succession to Willie Wildash.

Beaumont said: “I’m very honoured to be appointed Chairman of the RFU.

“I was fortunate enough to captain my country and everything since then has been about putting something back into a game that is important to so many people.

“We all want to make the game as attractive as possible for all the men, women, boys and girls, who want to play and watch at every level.

“The RFU staff and thousands of volunteers face three years of hard work ahead but the legacy of the England hosting Rugby World Cup in 2015 will be enormous and it is our chance to showcase our game throughout the whole country.”

Murphy said: “I wish Bill Beaumont all the best as my successor as Chairman. 

“He has my total support and I am sure he will bring his great experience to bear and lead the Board as effectively as he did the England team in days gone by.

“We’ve made enormous strides on and off the pitch in the last six months and I’m sure Bill will lead us forward to realise our full potential over the next few years.”

Murphy, 61, takes office having served for six years on the Board of Directors where he chaired both the Governance and the Finance Committees.  He represented Oxfordshire on the RFU Council for 16 years.

Beaumont, 60, is a former England and British & Irish Lions captain who has played a major role in the leadership of the domestic and global game since the end of his playing career.

He played for Fylde and Lancashire and won 34 caps between 1975 and 1982, captaining England to a first Grand Slam in 33 years in 1980, when he also led the Lions in South Africa.

He has represented his county on the RFU Council and the RFU on the IRB Council, including a four-year term as vice chairman, and has been a director of the Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup. He is Honorary President of the Wooden Spoon charity and was awarded a CBE for services to rugby union in 2008.

He is well known outside the game as BBC Question of Sport team captain for 14 years to 1996 and is the chairman of his family firm Bill Beaumont Textiles in Chorley

Bill Beaumont appointed RFU Chairman

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 08/07/2012 15:48

ComeOnYouSaints.com
08/07/2012 15:48

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Saint Tim
08/07/2012 16:07

Oh dear. Not a forward looking choice.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

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St Francis
08/07/2012 16:09

Another old fart. He wasn't even that good on QoS.

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Saint Tim
08/07/2012 16:16

Too tight with Cotton for my liking.



“Those who desire to give up freedom in order to gain security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”

Benjamin Franklin

Tetleys Block F E143

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St Owen
08/07/2012 18:28

Agreed. Not inspiring.

You can't always get what you want, But if you try sometimes well you might find, You get what you need.

Richards/Jagger

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Paul Flatt
08/07/2012 20:56

He was once my hero.

I don't understand - what does The President 'do' and what does The Chairman 'do'.

If they both 'do' lots then what does the Chief Executive do, except not a lot.

And if neither of them does much, then why are we bothered, except wishing we could also stick our own snouts into the trough which nourishes them so well?

"Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it."

-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.

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Robby Richmond
08/07/2012 21:27

Crumbs on a bike, its like a role that just past around old drinking pals isn't?

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Howlin
08/07/2012 23:27

Plus ce change, plus ce meme chose

Saint til I die

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Phil.
08/07/2012 23:48

OK, I'll bite.

Just why is this such a bad appointment?

Feel free to expand as much as you wish and if the Eds can turn an eloquent post into an article then so much the better...

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tedge
09/07/2012 12:52

Not a bad ole boy but of course he's a remnant of amateur rugby and doesn't have much understanding, at least at club level, of the professional era. His main remit seems to be the next RWC so he's best left to get on with it.

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Saint Tub
09/07/2012 13:26

Having met him a number of times, he's not remotely an old 'fart' or anything similar, loves the game, loves his country and has significant experience in both the commercial and 'media' led world

As the most profitable of the unions globally - with a brand second only to the AB's - I'm not sure exactly what people are expecting ?

The gap between premiership and international is the one issue and one that is caused by sky and money, nothing else

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Neil-H
09/07/2012 13:50

Was a great character when he was end of season speaker at my club few years ago, came across as a likeable top bloke that loved the game

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