Former Newport and Pontypool player Lyndon Faulkner will take over as chairman of the Welsh Rugby Union on Sunday, 22 November 2026. The 66-year-old businessman steps into the role as the governing body plans to cut its professional tier from four teams down to three.
The Welsh Rugby Union announced the appointment of Lyndon Faulkner, describing the move as a major coup
for the organisation. Faulkner succeeds Richard Collier-Keywood, whose departure clears the way for the incoming chair to take the reins at the upcoming annual general meeting on Sunday, 22 November 2026, according to reporting from BBC and Yahoo Sports.
Faulkner arrives at a critical juncture for Welsh rugby. The governing body is currently restructuring its professional tier, reducing the number of teams from four to three. This shift leaves west Wales rivals the Ospreys and the Scarlets competing to avoid becoming surplus to requirements. Meanwhile, the WRU has already locked in the future of Cardiff—a team it owns—alongside the privately-backed Dragons, confirming both will stay afloat beyond the end of the 2027-28 season.
From Pontypool Pitch to Corporate Boardrooms
Faulkner’s roots in the sport run deep. The 66-year-old played for Newport Youth before advancing to the senior side and Pontypool during their eras as leading Welsh teams. He also attended Bassaleg Comprehensive School in Newport. His athletic lineage includes family ties to legendary Wales and Pontypool prop Tony Charlie
Faulkner, as Lyndon is his nephew.
An injury cut his playing career short, prompting a transition into the corporate sector. Faulkner built a successful business career in the United States, securing senior executive positions with major corporations including Microsoft, Technicolor/Nimbus CD International, Pelican Products, and Peli Biothermal. His corporate background also features entrepreneur awards, an appearance on the United States television series The Mentor
, and teaching stints as a lecturer at Stanford University Business School and the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School.
The Mandate and the Leadership Team
The WRU stated that Faulkner’s mandate as independent chair is to guide the board in determining the strategic direction of rugby in Wales while holding executive staff accountable for implementation. He will also serve as a global ambassador for the governing body. The union praised his ability to court the respect of both its community and professional game and the wider business world around it
.
This is a pivotal time for the game and I will start by listening to those around me and of course remaining open to credible challenge. I know personally how important Welsh rugby is in many different ways to the nation. So, it is a huge privilege for me to return to Welsh rugby as chair of the WRU and give something back to a sport which has helped define me and means so much to me, my family, friends and the people of Wales.
Lyndon Faulkner, Incoming WRU Chair
WRU chief executive Abi Tierney—who previously addressed leadership changes in April 2026—expressed confidence in the incoming leadership. I know Lyndon and I are ready to form a formidable team working to advance Welsh rugby at all levels,
Tierney said. Alison Thorne, a senior independent director and board member, added that Faulkner brings a fresh perspective and added value to both rugby and business operations.
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