Abi Tierney: The woman aiming to change Welsh rugby

Abi Tierney does not pretend to be a rugby expert – she does not need to.

Neither does she believe her appointment as the first female Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) chief executive was based on gender.

What is clear is that this is a leader desperate to enact cultural and economic change at the WRU.

As Tierney prepares to jump from the frying pan of the Home Office into the fire of Welsh rugby, time will tell if she can achieve those goals.

Head coach Warren Gatland has often said Wales is a country of three million team selectors. Many of those with views on who should play for Wales also have opinions on how Welsh rugby should be run.

Also, the national game’s governing body has not always been the best at listening, particularly to a woman.

A BBC investigation found complaints over sexism and misogyny were ignored while a previous female board member, Amanda Blanc, was driven to distraction and ultimately the exit having had her business credentials regularly questioned, despite having run financial firm Aviva.

“I’m well aware I’m the first female and I’m aware of the additional responsibility that comes with that,” Tierney told a media throng in the bowels of the Principality Stadium.

“Firstly, I’ve been appointed to this role not because I’m female, but because of my leadership skills and capabilities. That’s important.

“But I also recognise the added responsibility that comes with that.

“We can all see the world of women in sport opening up right in front of our eyes, with the Lionesses, netball and the Ashes. I’m part of that. Ten years ago, it would have been quite a lonely place being sat here but right now, I feel like part of a movement and Wales is now at the forefront of that.”

The WRU has been committed to appointing a woman to one of its top two positions since pushing through reforms in the wake of the sexism scandal that saw predecessor Steve Phillips resign in January, and left the governing body facing a crisis.

Many will see Tierney as the right appointment at this “critical” time. She joined the Home Office in the wake of the Windrush scandal and would become the department’s top ethics adviser.