Experienced Melville to take up new roles at Premiership Rugby

NIGEL Melville has been appointed in two key roles at Premiership Rugby.

He will chair the Premiership Rugby investor board, which is the Gallagher Premiership clubs’ shareholder body, and the organisation’s rugby committee.

Premiership Rugby said both positions will be full-time roles.

Melville, 59, is a former director of professional rugby at the Rugby Football Union and served as interim RFU chief executive during the first half of last year.

The ex-England scrum-half also enjoyed a successful playing and coaching career, serving as director of rugby at Wasps and Gloucester.

Melville said: “My role is to work with the Premiership Rugby clubs and Darren Childs (Premiership Rugby chief executive) to provide support to the ownership group as they continue to develop the professional game in England.

“I was director of rugby at Wasps when the game went professional, and I have been involved with professional rugby for 25 years as both coach and administrator.

“In the last three years as director of professional rugby at the RFU, I worked with the Premiership clubs to deliver the Professional Game Agreement, so I understand the issues facing the modern game.”