Martyn Thomas
England
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Full name Martyn Thomas
Born date unknown
Other Administrator
Notes
Acting chief executive of the RFU 2011-
Chairman of the RFU Management Board 2005-11
Profile

Thomas is currently the acting chief executive of the Rugby Football Union and served as chairman of the RFU's management board between April 2005 and July 2011.

Chairman of Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire RFU between 1996 and 2005 and Midland Counties from 1999 to 2005, he was elected to the RFU Council in July 2001. In 2005, he beat Jack Rowell to the position of chairman of the RFU board and two years later he became one of the RFU's two representatives on the International Rugby Board Council and Six Nations Committee.

He was at the forefront of the RFU's successful bid to host the 2015 Rugby World Cup and is chairman of the company charged with delivering the tournament - that will be staged in England.

In 2009, Thomas joined the RFU's 'Image of the Game' task group in the wake of the 'Bloodgate' scandal but was mired in controversy of his own in 2011 revolving around the hiring and firing of former RFU chief executive John Steele.

Steele spent less than a year in the role before losing the confidence of the management board in his efforts to recruit a performance director. He stepped down from the role to be replaced by Thomas on an interim basis. Thomas later stood down from his role as chairman following a review into the affair but will continue in his other roles.

Educated at Mill Hill School, he played rugby and other sports for the Old Millhillians. On completion of his secondary education he trained as a solicitor, being articled in the City of London and attending the College of Law. After private practice he moved to the commercial sector, managing firstly a financial investment group and thereafter a European meat export group.

He coached Market Rasen's first XV and their minis, juniors and colts in the 1980s and '90s before taking up the whistle with the Notts, Lincs and Derbyshire Referee Society. Chairman of Market Rasen & Louth from 1989-1998, he became a Lincolnshire County Union Committee member from 1994-98 and was Chairman of the Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire Referee Society during the same period. Thomas joined the RFU's Competitions Sub Committee and Club Finance Sub Committee in 2002.

Latest Articles
Thomas: No way FFR and IRB will approve new cup (Sep 13, 2013) RFU apologises to Thomas (Sep 3, 2012) Cosslett handed World Cup role (Mar 22, 2012) Steele: Upheavel will benefit RFU (Feb 2, 2012) RFU announces new deal with GSK (Jan 17, 2012) Martyn Thomas news and articles (48) »
Latest Photos
Dec 8, 2013
Gloucester's Martyn Thomas goes over against Edinburgh
Gloucester's Martyn Thomas goes over against Edinburgh
©  Getty Images
Dec 2, 2012
Gloucester's Martyn Thomas is tackled by Saracens' Joel Tomkins
Gloucester's Martyn Thomas is tackled by Saracens' Joel Tomkins
©  Getty Images
Jun 29, 2011
Martyn Thomas, Twickenham, England
Martyn Thomas, Twickenham, England
©  Getty Images
Sep 7, 2010
RFU chairman Martyn Thomas talks to the media
RFU chairman Martyn Thomas talks to the media
©  Getty Images
Martyn Thomas rugby photos (5) »

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