RFU boss to retire

Rugby Football Union chief executive Francis Baron has announced his intention to retire at the end of the current season.

Baron, 64, will officially stand down at the RFU’s annual general meeting in July 2010 after nearly 12 years in the position.

During that time, Baron has overseen a financial and commercial transformation of the RFU and played a leading role in bringing the 2015 Rugby World Cup tournament to England.

Baron said: “I will be entering my 65th year next year and I felt it was the right time to set my retirement date to enable an orderly transition to my successor.

“It will enable him or her a full year in office prior to a change in the chairmanship of the RFU in 2011 and the World Cup in New Zealand later that year, together with ensuring senior management continuity through a period of change.

“July 2010 also provides a natural break point for me and not just because it is the end of the season.

“All elements of the South Stand re-development project will have been completed by then and having secured the World Cup for England in 2015, the establishment of the 2015 operating company will need to commence in earnest in the following season.

“Clearly my successor should lead on this and have a blank sheet of paper to work with. I am pleased I will be passing on to my successor a financially strong union with a strong management team implementing a clear eight-year strategic plan.”

The RFU has grown into an organisation worth £150m (€166.7m) and is now operating at an annual profit of £9m (€10m), compared to losses of £10m (€11m) when Baron took over in 1998.

RFU president John Owen said: “The advent of professionalism had the potential to blow the game off course but Francis has always kept a firm hand on the tiller and the position that rugby in England finds itself today is entirely thanks to his unstinting hard work and focus.”

The construction of the new South Stand expanded Twickenham’s capacity to 82,000 while the full hotel, lifestyle and conferencing complex will be completed in December.

The last major achievement of Baron’s tenure was to secure hosting rights for the 2015 Rugby World Cup despite the global financial difficulties in place at the time.

Martyn Thomas, chairman of the RFU’s management board, said: “Francis’ achievements are many and his legacy will be everlasting with the financial transformation of the union and the South Stand complex and hotel set to play a major role in the RFU over the coming years.

“None of it would have been possible without his vision and drive. I would also like to thank him for leading the executive team that delivered our successful bid for RWC 2015.

“It is typical of Francis’ approach that he had the foresight to take a difficult decision for him personally but one that was in the best long term interests of the RFU.”

The RFU’s investment in both community and elite rugby has reached record levels, with England’s World Cup triumph in 2003 helping to encourage significant growth in the grassroots game.

The RFU has seen participation in mini and junior rugby increase by 49% since 2003 and by 12% in the grassroots adult game over the same period.

Baron said: “By July I will have had nearly 12 memorable years with many high points and will have visited hundreds of clubs all over the country and met many outstanding volunteers who do so much to run the community game.”

Baron has told the RFU he will be available to support them in a non-executive capacity should that be required.

The RFU’s management board has been authorised by the council to lead the search for a successor.