Alan Gilpin is the new World Rugby Chief Executive Officer

World Rugby has announced that Alan Gilpin is the new World Rugby Chief Executive Officer, taking over from Brett Gosper who left the role earlier in 2021.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “I am excited by Alan’s vision for the future of the organisation and the moves the sport needs to take to become truly global and drive sustainable growth in new, key markets.

His intimate knowledge of the business of the sport, the opportunities and challenges we collectively face as a family and his excellent leadership and stakeholder relations skills make him the stand-out and right choice for this role at an important and exciting time for the sport globally.”

Gilpin added: “I am immensely proud and honoured to take up the role as Chief Executive of World Rugby and to lead an organisation that is at a really exciting stage in its history.

With a new Strategic Plan ready to launch, considerable talent within the organisation, and an executive board that has ambitious goals for the next few years, it is set to be a pivotal period in the growth of the sport.”

Photo Credit: World Rugby

Who is Alan Gilpin?

Alan Gilpin was the Chief Operating Officer of World Rugby and had been filling in the role of World Rugby interim Chief Executive, since Brett Gosper’s departure in January 2021 until now. Gilpin has also held the role of Managing Director of Rugby World Cup since 2016.

World Rugby confirmed in late 2020 that former CEO, Brett Gosper, would be leaving his role to take over at NFL Europe.

Gilpin has a legal background, previously spending nine years at IMG where he was responsible for the commercial rights negotiations across the Rugby World Cups in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

At Sodexo and Mike Burton Group, he oversaw the award-winning hospitality programme for the London 2012 Olympic Games and was instrumental in the delivery of a record Rugby World Cup 2015 official hospitality programme, said World Rugby.

Future Rugby World Cups

World Rugby said in their statement announcing the appointment of Gilpin: “His leadership expertise, ability to assemble strong delivery teams and focus on innovation, along with the fan and player experience have played a strong role in the hosting of the most successful men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups to date. He has also transformed the future hosting model to broaden interest and impact.”

Gilpin himself said, “Rugby World Cup 2023 in France will be a spectacular tournament, marking the 200th anniversary of rugby, while the Rugby World Cup 2021 tournament in New Zealand (now postponed to 2022) is at the core of our increased commitment and investment in the growth of women’s rugby.

We are already in discussions with potential hosts for the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups in 2025, 2027, 2029 and 2031 to ensure that we have long-term hosting certainty for our pinnacle events, to drive revenue growth and allow ever-increasing investment.”

We have stated previously that whoever takes over as CEO will have a lot to deal with in the role to map out the future of the global game.

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