Former England Captain, Tom Wood, Appointed to Premiership Rugby Commission Role

Former England Captain Tom Wood Takes On Key Role in Premiership Rugby’s Sporting Commission

In an effort to revamp the governance of club rugby, Premiership Rugby has appointed former England captain Tom Wood as a member of its new sporting commission. This group, comprised of seven individuals including three independent figures from sport and business such as Mark Rawlinson and Jane Purdon, will be granted unprecedented decision-making powers over crucial aspects like season structure and the calendar.

The addition of Wood’s player perspective contributes significantly to this diverse mix. The retired flanker won two Six Nations titles with England in both 2011 and 2017, captaining his national side during their tour of Argentina in 2013. He also led Northampton Saints to victory at the Premiership Finals Series back in May 2014 after joining them two years earlier.

Premiership Rugby officials Nigel Melville (chair), Simon Massie-Taylor (chief executive) and Phil Winstanley complete the seven-person panel set to lead league decision-making processes moving forward.

Governance Changes Aimed at Avoiding League Conflicts & Vested Interests

Last December saw plans for other significant governance changes laid out following a tumultuous period that saw Worcester Warriors, Wasps RFC and London Irish go out of business. Such measures include establishing a financial monitoring panel overseeing all club finances aimed at preventing similar fates from befalling any more clubs.

New Professional Game Agreement Underway Between Relevant Parties

The game continues discussions on introducing a new professional game agreement among relevant parties – namely Premier Rugby, The Rugby Football Union (RFU) along with the players’ association – following nine months plagued by calamitous events.