Pickering won 27 caps for Wales during his playing career © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Players/Officials: Dai Pickering

Tournaments/Tours: Magners League | Six Nations | Six Nations Under-20's | Magners League

Teams: Wales

David Pickering has been unanimously re-elected by the Board of the Welsh Rugby Union to serve as Chairman for the next year.

The former Wales captain who won 23 international caps, was returned unopposed to the role he has held since 2002. He said:"It is a great honour to be elected to this role and I will endeavour to serve Welsh rugby to the very best of my ability.

"I want to thank everyone involved in the game for the help and support I receive, particularly my colleagues on the Board and in the Union. I am particularly grateful to my Vice Chair, Ken Hewitt and the WRU President, Dennis Gethin for the help and wise counsel they give me.

"As Chairman I am proud to have been in office as the WRU debt has reduced by some £40m and the national team has delivered two Grand Slam victories for us all to celebrate."

David Pickering is now one of the most respected administrators in world rugby as he also chairs the RBS Six Nations Committee. He also sits on the Executive of the IRB. He joined the IRB Council in 2000 and was first elected as a National representative of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1998.

The Board of the WRU also unanimously re-elected the District A representative, Ken Hewitt, as Vice Chairman for the next twelve months.

In related news, a new professional disciplinary panel has been formed to deal with alleged offences or breaches of the Code of Conduct by professional players within the four Welsh Regions.

The WRU Professional Disciplinary Panel will comprise a legally-qualified chairman, a former player and a member of the WRU Regulatory Committee (who shall be from a District which has no connection with the Player or the Teams participating in the match in which the alleged offence occurred).

All other disciplinary offences and breaches of the Codes of Conduct within domestic club rugby, shall be dealt with by a WRU disciplinary panel of at least three (3) members of the disciplinary sub committee of the Regulatory Committee of the WRU (WRU Disciplinary Panel) none of whom shall be from a District which has a connection with the Player, Officials, Clubs or the Teams participating in the match in which the alleged offence occurred.

In addition, a member of the Welsh Society of Rugby Union Referees will attend WRU Disciplinary Panel meetings to observe proceedings and give advice from a match official's points of view.