Ritchie ready to lead Premiership Rugby

Ian Ritchie, the former chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, is in line to make a surprise return to full-time rugby administration.

The 63-year-old has emerged as the front-runner to become the chairman of Premiership Rugby, which represents England’s top-flight clubs. Current chairman Semore Kurdi, the owner of Newcastle Falcons, is stepping down at the end of this season after two years in the post.

Ritchie was expected to walk away from the game when he left his position after five years at the RFU last August. However, this column revealed last November that he had made a swift return by carrying out the comprehensive governance review of the Six Nations council and British and Irish Lions board.

Now Premiership club sources say he is expected to stand for election to succeed Kurdi next month and is expected to win.

A nominations committee will recommend their preferred candidate to the Premiership board next month. The board will vote to determine who is appointed to the role, which comes with a significant five-figure salary.

Premiership Rugby governance regulations state that their chairman should be independent and Ritchie will bring not only a wealth of experience but also extensive insider knowledge of the RFU, having overseen the eightyear £200 million deal with the clubs to increase the time that Eddie Jones will be able to spend with the England squad and increasing the size of the elite player squad from 33 to 45.