WRU could raid Premiership Rugby for performance executive
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 01: Phil Winstanley of Premiership Rugby presents Charlie Beckett of Gloucester United with his runner up medal at the end of the Aviva A League Final between Northampton Wanderers and Gloucester United at Franklin's Gardens on May 1, 2017 in Northampton, England. (Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images)
WALES could be set for a raid on English rugby with Gallagher Premiership supremo Phil Winstanley emerging as a serious contender to become the WRU’s new performance director.
The position has been vacant since former Wales captain Ryan Jones resigned last October.
TRP understands Winstanley is on a three-man shortlist for the role.
The former Sale Sharks prop is a qualified legal executive and currently sits on the Professional Game Board which is responsible for managing rugby at the highest level in England.
He also sits on the PGB’s match officials board and chairs the Premiership’s salary cap sub-committee and the RFU‘s anti-doping group.
Winstanley would fit the bill of what the WRU is looking for to replace Jones – who has since joined Sport Wales – but his appointment isn’t certain with two other strong candidates in contention.
The WRU’s performance director sits on the Welsh Professional Rugby Board and works with Wales head coach Wayne Pivac on the way forward for pro rugby in the country.
By STEFFAN THOMAS
