World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper is to leave his post in January to become the head of NFL in Europe and the UK.
Gosper left Australia at the age of 22 to play rugby in France with the club that became Racing 92. He has been in his current role for nine years overseeing record participation and audience growth, four successful Rugby World Cups in the Men’s and Women’s games, and ensuring rugby sevens’ return to the Olympic stage.
With World Rugby set to launch a new strategic plan, delivering a roadmap for the sustainable globalisation of the sport, preparations on track for Rugby World Cups in 2021 and 2023, and an innovative future Rugby World Cup host selection process in place now is a good time for a transition.
“It’s been a fantastic nine years,” said Gosper. “It has been an absolute privilege to have worked with so many talented and dedicated rugby people around the world. I’ve been supported by two excellent chairmen in Sir Bill Beaumont and Bernard Lapasset along the way, excellent committees, and a brilliant team at World Rugby.
“Rugby is a wonderful sport and World Rugby is a fantastic organisation, and therefore it was a very difficult decision to leave, but with a new ambitious strategic plan set to launch and the strong foundations in place to drive the sport forward beyond the pandemic, the time is right for me to begin a new challenge. I am proud of what we have achieved together as a rugby family. While I will miss working in the sport, my passion and enthusiasm for what rugby and its values mean to so many will never diminish.
Chief Operating Officer Alan Gilpin will perform the role of World Rugby interim Chief Executive, ensuring business continuity between Gosper’s departure in January and the appointment of a new Chief Executive.
One of the front runners for the role, based in Dublin, is believed to be Jordi Roux, CEO of South Africa Rugby.
Sport for Business Partners
