WRU names businessman Faulkner as new chair

Lyndon Faulkner will take over the role at the WRU's annual general meeting on Sunday, 22 November. Lyndon Faulkner helped Newport win the Welsh Youth Cup in his early playing career The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has named former Newport and Ponytpool player Lyndon Faulkner as the governing body's new chairman. He is the nephew of legendary Wales and Pontypool prop Tony "Charlie" Faulkner and has become a successful businessman in the United States since his playing days. Faulkner will take over the role vacated by Richard Collier-Keywood at the WRU's annual general meeting on Sunday, 22 November. He will do so at a time when the WRU is planning to cut the game's professional tier from four to three teams, with west Wales sides Ospreys and Scarlets vying to avoid becoming surplus to requirements.

The WRU has already confirmed the team it owns, Cardiff, and privately-backed Dragons, will continue to exist beyond the end of the 2027-28 season. The WRU says Faulkner's appointment is "a major coup" and he can "court the respect of both its community and professional game and the wider business world around it". WRU publishes data on why west Wales team will be cut Fight for Wales spots heats up as under-threat regions win In a WRU statement Faulkner said: "This is a pivotal time