Former Sport England boss David Moffett has been unveiled as the Welsh Rugby Union's first group chief executive.

Doncaster-born Moffett, who emigrated to Australia 40 years ago, beat off more than 100 applicants for the post.

"I am delighted that we have uncovered such a dynamic and experienced man to take on the vital new role of Welsh Rugby Union group chief executive," said WRU chairman Glanmor Griffiths.

"We pledged to our clubs in the wake of the extraordinary general meeting earlier this year, when big changes were made to the constitution of our game, that we would find the right man to lead Welsh rugby into a new age both on and off the field.

"In David, who has held high-ranking sporting posts in Australia, New Zealand and England, we have a man with great management skill and experience."

When WRU re-organisation is completed next summer Moffett will become one of 18 members on the board of Welsh Rugby Union Limited.

He will also chair a new six-man WRU executive board, overseeing day-to-day running of union business, and become a director of Millennium Stadium plc.

He will also arrive at a period of huge unrest in the Welsh game - with a debate raging about club and provincial rugby, growing unrest from exasperated millionaire club backers and several grass-roots clubs struggling for players and having to postpone matches.

Moffett, 55, became executive director of the New South Wales Rugby Union in 1992 - moving on three years later when he accepted a post as SANZAR chief executive, overseeing top-level rugby in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

While at SANZAR, he negotiated international television contracts and supervised the creation of southern hemisphere rugby's Super 12 competition.

In 1996 he became the first non-Kiwi to be appointed chief executive of the New Zealand Rugby Union, helping to guide the body from its amateur status to be among New Zealand's top 200 companies.

In November 1999 he became chief executive of Australia's National Rugby League, before joining Sport England 10 months ago.

Moffett announced earlier this month that he was stepping down from that post, having been responsible for driving through a modernisation plan.