New chief executive for rugby players body
THE body representing and supporting professional rugby players in Wales has a new chief executive.
The Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA), has appointed Barry Cawte as it new head.
Mr Cawte will join the WRPA on September 9 from the UK’s largest leisure operator, GLL (Greenwich Leisure Limited), which runs more than 350 public sport and leisure centres, including the London Aquatics Centre and Copper Box Arena opened for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Previously he led a newly-formed charitable social enterprise that saved Swansea Tennis Centre from permanent closure and instead transformed it into one of the best facilities of its kind in Wales.
Mr Cawte then worked as a consultant
to the Tennis Foundation and Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and has held range of other commercial roles over a 20-year career in sport and leisure.
He succeeds former Wales international back-row forward and Cardiff Blues captain, Andries Pretorius, who led the organisation for two years.
The association has around 200 professional rugby player members. The organisation is funded by membership subscriptions.
Ken Owens, WRPA chairman and Scarlets, Wales and British & Irish Lions hooker, said: “This was a hotlycontested role and we were delighted by the calibre of applicants who wanted to support rugby players in Wales by helping to take our organisation forwards.”
Mr Cawte said: “I’m delighted to be joining the fantastic team at the WRPA to build on the great work already done by the organisation in recent years.
“I’m determined to ensure Welsh rugby players have a courageous, influential and powerful voice in our sport and this can be achieved with the support of our members, stakeholders and current and future partners.”