Was it design or accident that saw Genevieve Shore move across from Chair to Chief Executive of the PWR board on the same day as the Red Roses acquired a new captain?
Of the two appointments we might consider the choice of Zoe Aldcroft more predictable than Shore.
The PWR had been leaderless since early October, when Belinda Moore resigned as CE. In the interim Shore seemed to take on the role of chief spokesperson.
The newly shaped PWR board is described as powerful, and several additions certainly cover vital areas of interest, such as Strategy and Operations and Marketing.
But questions remain: why was Shore shunted across from the one position to the other? Was no- one else found willing to take on these duties?
Of course we have no idea what impelled Moore to step away, but the challenges the new-look board faces are immense. I have attempted to outline some of the most baffling posers in the past. I will limit myself to repeating just two: the funding of all nine clubs and the targeted increase in professionalism.
The board now includes two representatives from the world of football and one from tennis. They will offer a different angle on contentious matters, but how close to the world of PWR rugby can we expect them to come?
The news, as expressed by the RFU’s statement, is above all confident and optimistic. That is a brave front to adopt when rugby is under all manner of threats to its well-being. Shore is described as “uniquely qualified” for the appointment. But just two years ago Moore was called “a perfect fit”.
Women’s rugby will be in the spotlight this year, with a tenth World Cup on the horizon. One totally positive element is the prosperity of the Red Roses. The PWR will continue to supply the vehicle for testing out out the best players the nation can provide. It’s reassuring to know that Shore was herself a member of the 1994 World Cup winning team.
We await with some suspense early statements from her about the broad outlines of PWR policy. Will she simply confirm the principles laid down in the 10-year strategy when PWR was launched in 2023, or will she find it sensible to make adjustments?
We have yet to discover who will take over as Chair.
