Premiership Rugby Appoints Ian Ritchie

25 Mar 2018 | tshego

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Ian Ritchie has returned to rugby as the new independent, non-executive chairman of Premiership Rugby.

Ritchie was previously chief executive of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), spending five years at the helm.

He retired from his role at the RFU in May last year and has also held previous roles in tennis and as non-executive director at the Football League and Wembley Stadium. Most recently, he joined Onside Law as a consultant to the firm.

He was elected unanimously by the Premiership Rugby board of directors for a two-year term which will start next month.

Semore Kurdi, current chairman and the owner of Newcastle Falcons said: “I’m delighted that Ian has agreed to become chairman. We are in a period of significant domestic and international growth for the club game, with this weekend’s big Aviva Premiership Rugby matches just one example, as they will be seen in some 200 countries around the world.

“Ian will undoubtedly add to our ability to realise the full potential of the league. I have enjoyed my time in the chair and I look forward to working with him through this next phase.”

Ritchie added: “Premiership Rugby has become one of the foremost competitions in professional sport and I’m pleased to be taking the chair at this time. Clearly, the partnership with the RFU is central to the success of both club and country and I look forward to helping ensure its success.

“I take over the chairmanship with Premiership Rugby in great shape and I would like to record my appreciation of Semore’s role over the last two years in the continued success of Aviva Premiership Rugby. I look forward to helping build on this.”