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Extract-Abi Tierney named first female head of WRU after ‘toxic culture’ allegations Abi Tierney has been appointed the first female chief executive of the Welsh Rugby Union. Tierney will join the WRU before the end of 2023 after serving notice at the Home Office, where she is the director general for customer services and ethics advisor and chair of their people committee. Her appointment comes nearly seven months after Steve Phillips resigned as WRU chief executive amid allegations of a “toxic culture” at the organisation… Welsh rugby was rocked in January by a BBC documentary which aired allegations of racism, misogyny, sexism and homophobia at the WRU. A committee of Senedd members noted in June that the WRU was responsible for a “serious failure of governance” and missed opportunities to act on concerning behaviour within the organisation. Tierney will take over from the interim chief executive Nigel Walker, the former Olympic hurdler and Wales international who will now become the WRU’s first director of rugby… “I am an inclusive leader and I will do my utmost to promote belonging, trust, understanding and mutual support at all levels in Welsh rugby. Extract-Glass cliffs: firms appoint female executives in times of crisis as a signal of change to investors Keep asking questions: Women should keep asking questions when being offered a position. Female leaders may have fewer options to reach the top, and thus they may hesitate to say no to an executive position. Female candidates who are unsure whether they are being offered a glass cliff position and whether they should take it should keep asking questions. In doing so they may find out whether they are getting the job because the company truly believes in them and they can expect to work with colleagues who are truly supportive, or whether the company is just looking for a fresh face. https://lnkd.in/ej3k_3eY https://lnkd.in/exMRmjjj

#STUDENTATHLETICSUPDATE #CONGRATULATIONS to all #student #athletes #schools #irishschoolsathletics #SIAB #combinedevents #International #schools #athletics in #NIAC ARENA #CARDIFF #WALES @Met_athletics @SSAAschools @SchoolAthletics @welsh_aa #schoolsathleticsupdate

Looking forward to having you join our panel discussion on 30th May Darragh!

Another failure of governance in Australian rugby. Why do I care to comment beyond being a frustrated fan? It’s a great case study of the absolute criticality of governance in business transformation. What do I know about rugby to justify commenting? I know a hell of a lot about governance in business transformation, and enough about rugby, to recognise how the failure of rugby’s stuttering program to improve itself, and future failures, follow inevitably from what are recognised in business transformation governance as faulty fundamentals. The NRL outmanoeuvre Rugby because the N stands for National: it’s a proper peak body with appropriate powers to make decisions of national significance for the game. The ARU by contrast is an afterthought, an add on vainly trying to “influence” the State bodies to agree that any given matter is of national significance, to see it the same way, to come to the same conclusions, to agree on a way forward and to execute the plan in a coordinated and cooperative manner. It never happens because of power dynamics and self defeating politics between the States. Centralisation failed under McLennan and is failing under Waugh, not due to their talents and efforts but for fundamental reasons. It’s not something that can be fixed incrementally, without radical surgery leading to the establishment of an entirely new governance structure, a proper peak National body and appropriate mission-aligned division of powers. That will require winding up the current corporate structures and starting again …or, of course, waiting for them to be compulsorily wound up in Administration and salvaging whatever wreckage is left. It’s usually better to act than react but the existing power centres won’t even acknowledge the true nature of the underlying problem as they chug down another chardy. #rugby #governance #transformation #managementlearning

Origin histories, especially those surrounding national team selection, are to me kind of arbitrary but this historiographical debate is significant. As Tracey Holmes so nicely captures: "History is never a straight path- it has twists and turns, it inspires debates and disagreements, it is often challenged". While the origins of men's sport and team selections have inspired rigorous and vigorous debate and discussion in Australia for decades, women's sport has not received the same treatment. For example, despite the popularity and success of netball in Australia its origins have only been studied by a handful of historians. There are no real twists and turns in that history because not all that many people have cared to argue over it. That is not to suggest women's sport histories haven't been written but when they are they are rarely challenged. The truth of women's sport history is largely uncontested. I have said elsewhere we need to be cautious about claiming the 'Matildas effect' as evidence of a gender revolution in sport but there is something in this historical disagreement. This is about more than just naming and celebrating a national team. The arguments surrounding the first Matildas reveal that there is something at stake, something worth arguing over. So for what it's worth I'm following the to and fro with optimistic interest.

This video shows some #golfindustry expert's views on #theshortgameplace and why it will be the leader in #inclusivedesign and #accessibilityforall .

📚 Exciting news! 🌟 Riccardo Coppa and I contributed chapters to the upcoming book International Sports Justice published by The Sports Law and Policy Centre and edited by Massimo Coccia and Michele Colucci. Our focus? 🤸♂️ FIG (Gymnastics) and FIM (Motorcycling). Delving into the complexities of sports law, we explore the self-governance of these international sports federations. 🏀 Not just that! Our colleague from KC Lugano Andrea Fioravanti covers EuroLeague Basketball. It's an honor for KC Sports Law Team to be part of this project involving top contributors such as Mikael Rentsch, Jaime-Albizu Lamboy-Riley, Massimo Coccia, Stephen Bock, and many more, shedding light on the legal dynamics shaping sports. 📖 Stay tuned and have a look at the flyer! 🚀⚖️ #SportsLaw #InternationalSportsJustice #FIG #FIM #sports #sportsbusiness #sportsindustry #sportsfederation #ThisIsKellerhalsCarrard  #LawyersInCharge  #Legaladvice

✊ Sporting Event of the Month: Vinicius Junior's Stand Against Racism 😢 This month, the sports world witnessed a profoundly emotional moment when Real Madrid's forward, Vinicius Junior, openly discussed the escalating racist abuse he has faced in Spain. During a press conference ahead of the friendly match between Spain and Brazil at Santiago Bernabéu, Vinicius, in tears, expressed how the lack of consequences for perpetrators has only emboldened them. His poignant message was clear: "I feel less and less like playing." Vinicius's resilience in the face of adversity is not just about a player but a symbol of the ongoing struggle against racism in sports. Despite facing racist chants in over ten Spanish stadiums over the past two years, Vinicius remains determined not to let the voices of hate win. His commitment was highlighted in a recent match against Valencia, where, after scoring, he celebrated with a fist raised high – echoing the iconic protest of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Olympics. 🤝 The incidents surrounding Vinicius are a stark reminder of the racism that still pervades sports today. The challenges are daunting, from chants wishing harm upon him outside stadiums to the lack of adequate response from football authorities. Yet, Vinicius's courage to stand tall, fight, and keep playing shines as a beacon of hope. As fans and supporters of sports, we must stand with Vinicius Junior and all athletes facing racism. The beauty of sports lies in its power to unite us, transcending boundaries and differences. Let's not allow racism to tarnish this spirit. Instead, let's work together to create an environment where every athlete can play without fear, where respect and love for the game are the only things that matter. #NoToRacism #Football #Sport #News #SportsIndustry

Pleased to see this announcement - a valuable step in preparation for the first ever Women's Lions tour to New Zealand in 2027. Here's why I think this is a timely intervention for the prospects of this tour and women's rugby more broadly: 📚 Protecting the culture and history of Lions rugby: across their rich history, my favourite Lions tours have had the most balanced representation across the four nations. The ability for players from four different nations to come together, build a bond and cohesive style of play is what makes the British & Irish Lions so unique within sport and becomes a powerful tool for storytelling. ⚖ Levelling the playing field: the most compelling sports leagues and competitions embody this. The NFL is a great example, where the pre-season draft gives the lowest rank teams first pick of the top college talent each year, helping to level things up. Across the last 10 Superbowl's, there have been a total of 11 different teams competing and 7 different winners. This helps to keep fans engaged every season. 📈 Capitalising on growing interest: Saturday saw a full-house, record attendance at Hive Stadium for Scotland vs England, however Scotland battled to a 46-0 loss. With the popularity of the Women's Six Nations growing, creating a more competitive environment is critical to keep fans coming back for more and maintaining this momentum. This is equally important for the success of the RWC in 2025. 🌟 Victory over the Auld Enemy: maybe I am biased on this one, but having seen the success of the Scottish men's teams over England in recent years, I'm hopeful this funding will help our women's team to do the same in the years ahead! The British & Irish Lions Royal London https://lnkd.in/e9rAsxUP