World Rugby Regional General Manager for Asia & Oceania Will Glenwright, will be leaving his position mid-November to take up the post of Head of Global Development at the International Cricket Council.
Glenwright will lead cricket’s game and market development, which has a focus on more competitive teams, more people playing and better cricket systems in more member countries. He will also assume responsibility for growing the game in new territories, particularly USA and China.
World Rugby-Rugby Services Manager in Oceania Bruce Cook said: “This is a fantastic appointment for Will and he will take with him a range of skills he has developed and honed over his 11 years working in the Pacific and latterly Asia. He will take with him the best wishes of many people involved in rugby in the Asia Pacific area.”
ICC Chief Executive David Richardson said: “I am looking forward to welcoming William to the ICC in such an important role for us. William will utilise his vast experience in international sports management to focus on how we develop and grow the game and ensure we have more teams capable of challenging at the top level.”
Glenwright, who has worked with World Rugby, the Australian Sports Commission and the Sydney Olympics Organising Committee added: “I am really excited by the prospect of joining the ICC. My focus will be on assisting the organisation achieve its goal of increasing the quality and reach of the game worldwide.”
He also noted the highlights of his time in Oceania as being the Fiji Rugby Gold medal at the Rio Olympic; Samoa defeating Australia in Sydney in 2011 and the restructuring of the Oceania development strategy to ensure mass participation was an integral strategy to grow the game.
Richard Sapias, the President of Oceania Rugby also added his congratulations and praised Will for his service to the game since November 2005: “The committee, myself personally and all those who worked with Will, are no doubt saddened by his departure, but also extremely happy for his career move and that the ICC now have an outstanding administrator for cricket development.”