The Welsh Rugby Union has begun its search for a new CEO of Cardiff Rugby. It has been 17 months since former chief executive Richard Holland left the club, with the WRU now looking to appoint a permanent successor.
Welsh rugby is going through one of the most turbulent periods in its history, but Cardiff are expected to come through it. Here are six leading candidates the WRU may well consider.
Rhys Blumberg
Blumberg is an experienced sports executive who spent many years at Cardiff Rugby, progressing through the organisation to become Chief Operating Officer. In 2024, he joined Dragons RFC as chief executive, leading significant progress on and off the field, including a European semi-final, strong commercial growth and record season ticket increases.
A former semi-professional player, Blumberg combines rugby experience with proven business leadership. He would be an outstanding appointment.
Rhys Williams
The former Wales full-back is currently head of commercial at the Welsh Rugby Union. Williams spent his entire professional career at Cardiff before becoming commercial director at the club. He also spent over five years as president and CEO of the Welsh Rugby Players' Association (WRPA).
As part of his role with the WRU, Williams is responsible for revenue generation, securing new sponsorships, as well as negotiating media rights among other things.
Jamie Muir
Muir has been with the club for more than a decade, initially joining as stadium manager before progressing to head of operations and, ultimately, chief operating officer. After former CEO Holland left following the club’s move into administration in April 2025, Muir stepped into the role of managing director.
He is now responsible for the overall leadership of the club and its strategic direction. Having led the organisation for more than a year and worked closely with the WRU, Muir would appear the obvious candidate from a continuity perspective.
Chris Allen
Allen is a former hospitality and branding sales manager at the WRU and has also previously worked as commercial manager at Cardiff. More recently, he spent more than five years as deputy business partner lead at wealth management firm St James’s Place, while he is also a financial manager at Hubbard-Miles Wealth Management.
His background across sport, commercial operations and financial services means he clearly has the credentials to be considered for the role.
Matt Church
Church is well respected in Welsh rugby and spent eight years at Cardiff as commercial manager, giving him a strong understanding of the club, its staff, facilities and commercial partners. He has also built a sizeable network across sport and business, while a recent move into the legal sector has broadened his commercial and strategic experience having worked for Jardine Norton, Cambria Sports Group and Carbon Law Partners.
His work as CEO at Neath RFC, where he helped turn around the club's finances during a precarious period, is another major strength. He also managed a number of player testimonials including Paul James, James Hook and Sam Warburton. His knowledge of Cardiff and experience across both rugby and business would make him a strong candidate.
Yarnie Guthrie
This would be an extremely intriguing and impressive appointment. Guthrie's most recent job was as commercial general manager of the New Zealand Rugby Union, while he has also held the role of global head of commercial sales.
Prior to his time in New Zealand, Guthrie was commercial director at the Ospreys between 2010 and 2016, while he has also worked in the world of professional football with EA consulting. This would be a significant coup for Cardiff.
