Belinda Moore joins WRU as Head of Women’s Rugby

Belinda Moore has been appointed as the Welsh Rugby Union’s new Head of Women’s rugby.

Moore, who was CEO at England’s flagship professional women’s competition, Premiership Women’s Rugby, until November last year is a highly experienced and senior figure in the game.

A former senior BBC producer her skillset is also derived from further senior roles across sponsorship, broadcasting, program management, and public relations having worked previously as a Program Director and Head of Partnership for the DP World Tour, two high profile sports agencies and as Head of Athlete Engagement for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics during her career to date.

Moore’s appointment quickly follows the completion of the WRU’s review into aspects of its senior women’s game, as one of its key recommendations. This means the appointment is made on an interim basis for an initial nine-month period, with Moore tasked with helping to recruit her own successor for the new permanent role at the head of the women and girl’s game in Wales.

Key responsibilities for the new Head of Women’s rugby include the WRU’s systems, structures and pathway into the professional game, including the feasibility of the Celtic Challenge competition, preparation for the Rugby World Cup 2025, player contracting and cultural work with the senior women’s national squad and contributing to both the Women’s Rugby and the Six Nations Game committees.

Moore is able to begin her work immediately and joins the WRU from today, with the first task in her in-tray being to align and work closely with the new senior women’s head coach – an appointment set to be finalised in the coming days.

“This is a hugely exciting time to be joining Welsh rugby and for the women and girls’ game in particular,” said Moore.

“The senior game in Wales has been professional for just three short years and is progressing and advancing at an exponential rate.

“These swift advancements of course come with their own teething problems and my eyes are wide open in terms of the challenge ahead, but I am hugely optimistic about what can be achieved.

“These are exciting times. Its a world cup year, with a new head coach appointment imminent and a governance structure and senior personnel who are entirely invested in the women and girls’ game in Wales.

“The rate of growth of the game is there for all to see, with a Six Nations clash with England at Principality Stadium later this year which is set to break new records for attendance at a home international which is a hugely symbolic sign of that growth.

“Our task and challenge is to harness this growth and maximise the potential of the women and girls’ game across the country.”

The Head of Women’s Rugby role will report into the WRU’s new Director of Rugby, a role being recruited for now and currently filled on an interim basis by Performance Director Huw Bevan. Bevan took over from Nigel Walker, who resigned before Christmas, with community director Geraint John assuming Walker’s duties in relation to the community game at the same time.

Abi Tierney, WRU CEO adds, “Appointing a Head of Women’s Rugby has been a key priority for us and we are delighted to have secured the services of someone of the calibre, gravitas and directly relevant senior experience of Belinda Moore.”

“This role will be the cornerstone of all the progress we make in the women and girls’ game in Wales over the next five years as we implement our ‘One Wales’ strategy through to 2029.

“We all know that women and girls’ rugby is a huge area of growth for us both in commercial and participation terms and it is vitally important to the whole game in Wales that we harness this growth effectively.

“Belinda is exactly the right person for this job at this time, we are delighted to welcome her to Welsh rugby but also hugely excited about what the future may bring as we can now also put every effort into recruiting this role on a permanent basis.”