Sally Horrox Appointed as Director of Women’s Rugby

World Rugby confirmed the appointment of Sally Horrox as Director of Women’s Rugby on February 24, 2022. She will take up the role in May, just four months before the Rugby World Cup 2021 starts in New Zealand.

Horrox will step down in April 2022 from her role as joint Managing Partner of Y Sport, the international sports and brand consultancy which she co-founded in 2015 with Sally Hancock.

World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said of the appointment: “We are delighted to be welcoming someone of Sally’s calibre to the organisation to oversee an area of the sport that has the greatest participation, fan, commercial and leadership potential.

Sally is well known in the sports industry for getting results and brings with her considerable commercial, legal and strategic acumen and a deep understanding of the community and elite sports environments on an international basis. She knows how to successfully develop women’s sport and has a proven track record in major events, developing new competition structures and restructuring commercial rights.”

Photo Supplied- Sally Horrox will start as Director of Women’s Rugby in May 2022

Who is Sally Horox?

World Rugby adds that Horrox will “bring with her an impressive wealth of management and board-level experience in sport and business and will be responsible for World Rugby’s transformational Women in Rugby 2017-25 plan, which was refreshed in late 2021.

Horrox was former non-executive director of England Netball, advisor to UEFA, international football federations and The FA. World Rugby added in their statement that she has played a leading role in the success of the Vitality Netball Super League and the FA Women’s Super League, with her deep sport, commercial, legal insights and knowledge.

Horrox will join World Rugby in a restructured Strategy and Communications department under Chief Strategy Officer Mihir Warty.

Horrox said: “I’m delighted and hugely privileged to be joining World Rugby to lead what is regarded as the most significant area of growth for the game globally. With increased investment, two World Cups this year and the launch of WXV, a new annual women’s global competition in 2023, it is an incredibly exciting time for the sport.

“I am committed to accelerating the development of women in rugby at every level, and to promoting player welfare and gender equity in all that we do.”

In her role, Horox will lead the Women in Rugby team, collaborating with specialists in the High Performance, Competitions, Participation and Revenue and Fan Engagement teams, in addition to member unions, regional associations, and a range of partners to accelerate women in rugby on and off the field.

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