World Rugby has confirmed that interim CEO Alan Gilpin has been permanently appointed, ending Jurie Roux’s links to the position.

Gilpin (47) has performed the role of interim chief executive following Brett Gosper’s departure in January, and is highly regarded within the rugby and wider sports business community.

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SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux was heavily linked to the role, but World Rugby has instead decided to appoint Gilpin on a permanent basis.

‘Alan is well known and very well respected by the rugby family through his roles as Managing Director of Rugby World Cup and Chief Operating Officer of World Rugby, and I have long admired his passion, energy, innovation and leadership skills,’ World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said.

‘I am excited by Alan’s vision for the future of the organisation and the moves the sport needs to take to become truly global and drive sustainable growth in new, key markets.

‘His intimate knowledge of the business of the sport, the opportunities and challenges we collectively face as a family and his excellent leadership and stakeholder relations skills make him the standout and right choice for this role at an important and exciting time for the sport globally.’

Having overseen the delivery of record-breaking men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups and played a significant role in the transformation of the international federation’s business operations in recent years as COO, Gilpin is fully focused on the future.

‘I am immensely proud and honoured to take up the role as Chief Executive of World Rugby, and to lead an organisation that is at a really exciting stage in its history,’ he said. ‘With a new Strategic Plan ready to launch, considerable talent within the organisation, and an executive board that has ambitious goals for the next few years, it is set to be a pivotal period in the growth of the sport.’

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