Welsh Rugby Union seeks marketing chief

The Welsh Rugby Union is recruiting a group commercial and marketing director to work alongside Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium commercial and marketing director Graham Walker.

The new position will encompass marketing and commercial functions for both the WRU – the administrative and regulatory body for rugby in Wales – and the new 114m Millennium Stadium.

The new director will be asked to maximise the commercial income of WRU, promote Welsh rugby and the Millennium Stadium, identify funding opportunities and exploit business potential through sponsorship, licensing and merchandising.

Former Football League commercial executive Walker will continue in his role at the Millennium Stadium, which is owned by the WRU.

Walker says the new recruit will primarily be responsible for WRU promotions and will focus on the Welsh rugby clubs, advising them on how to generate more income.

Walker was bought in to attract sporting and other events, such as pop concerts, to the stadium, which opens next year as host to the 1999 Rugby World Cup. He wants the stadium to host up to 40 events a year.

This summer, Scottish Life Assurance issued a writ against the WRU after accusing the sports body of dumping a four-year sponsorship deal half way through (MW July 30) in favour of a more lucrative offer from Lloyds TSB.