Former Wales rugby star and Olympian appointed chair of Welsh Athletics

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Former Wales rugby international and Olympic hurdler Nigel Walker has been appointed chair of Welsh Athletics.

Mr Walker, who currently serves as vice chair, will succeed outgoing chair Steve Perks following the board’s September meeting.

The former dual-sport international represented Great Britain in the 110m hurdles at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles before switching to rugby union, earning 17 caps for Wales.

He takes over the governing body at a key moment, with Welsh Athletics set to finalise a new multi-year strategy in December.

Mr Walker said: “One of the first key tasks will be to finalise a strategy which has the necessary ambition to continue to drive the sport forward while meeting the obligations of our stakeholders and funders.”

His administrative career includes roles as chief executive of the English Institute of Sport, performance director and interim chief executive at the Welsh Rugby Union, and board positions with UK Sport and Commonwealth Games England.

Outgoing chair Steve Perks said Mr Walker’s background across multiple sports would be a major asset to the governing body as it prepares for the transition.

Welsh Athletics oversees the sport across Wales from elite competition down to grassroots clubs, school programmes, and local authority partnerships. A formal handover will take place following the board meeting in September.