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Wales and Lions legend Gerald Davies stays an extra year
By Paul Smith
The Welsh Rugby Union have extended president Gerald Davies’ term in office by 12 months.
The 46-times-capped former winger who was also a star of the great 1971 and 1974 British & Irish Lions will now remain in office until the end of the 2023 World Cup.
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Davies, who is 74, took over from Dennis Gethin in 2019 and was initially voted in for a three-year term which has now been extended.
“We are delighted it got through,” WRU chief executive Steve Phillips told BBC Wales.
“He has been in post for a while but because of the last year-and-a-half he probably has not been able to do what he wanted to do.
“It also seemed an opportune time to give every president a chance to go to a World Cup, so we thought it would be a good thing to do.”
Former Wales captain Colin Charvis was also re-elected as a WRU National Director at the union’s AGM. He is joined by John Manders and Claire Donovan who was elected unopposed after John Morgan stood down.
It's 14 years but long memories are not necessarily fond ones for Kiwi fans… ?????https://t.co/mj7dEr9aAO
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 18, 2021
Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner reports that former Six Nations and British & Irish Lions executive John Feehan is to take over as the new CEO of Basketball Ireland on November 15th.
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Feehan spent 16 years as CEO of the Six Nations and the British & Irish Lions between 2002 and 2018. He was also CEO of the URC forerunner, PRO12, between 2011 and 2015.
Feehan said he is looking forward to his new role.
“I’m really excited to get started with Basketball Ireland,” he said.
“Basketball has seen an upsurge in popularity in Ireland over the last number of years and I’m eager to continue to help unlock its full potential.
“There is huge scope for growth, particularly given its key strengths – such as it being the most diverse and inclusive sport in the country, with not only a 50-50 gender balance, but also a wide base of support, when it comes to participation and engagement.
“I am determined to make an impact on the sport and I’ll be working hard with all the stakeholders within the game to achieve that.”
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