Lydon appointed to safeguard Welsh rugby's future
Former GB rugby league international Joe Lydon appointed to WRU
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Wednesday, 19, Nov 2008 02:41
Former Great Britain rugby league international Joe Lydon has been named as the man tasked with ensuring the future of the union code's future in Wales.
As head of rugby performance and development he will take charge of all aspects of the sport outside management of the senior national squad, which will continue to be coached by Warren Gatland.
His appointment brings to an end a major restructuring process for Welsh rugby, with a clear division of responsibilities between Gatland and Lydon.
"Joe's rugby and business CV speaks for itself and when I met him I was impressed by his knowledge of Welsh rugby and his clear strategic thinking on the way forward for Wales," Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive Roger Lewis said.
"All of us know about his legendary status as a player and I know the whole of Wales will grow to respect his rugby intelligence and management skills."
Lydon already has an impressive management career to follow his playing career, during which he won the rugby league's player of the year award in 1984.
He was Wigan's team manager and then performance director at the Rugby Football League, in which post he won the sport's first multimillion pound lottery bid from Sport England.
The man himself says he is hugely excited by his new role.
"I look forward to drawing on my experiences gained from being involved in professional rugby of both codes over the last 25 years and feel confident that this role will provide opportunity and challenge within one of the most passionately supported rugby-playing nations in the world," Lydon said.
"Just as it is in my hometown of Wigan, rugby in Wales is much more than a sport, it's a way of life."