Johnson Accepts Pgb Challenge
Rugby union: Former England captain Martin Johnson has been elected to the newly formed Professional Game Board
England's World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson is set to take up his first official role since retiring after being elected to the newly formed Professional Game Board (PGB).
Johnson, who captained his country to glory in 2003 before quitting the game in 2005, received the unanimous backing of Guinness Premiership clubs at a Premier Rugby (PRL) board meeting yesterday.
The 84-cap former lock will be Premier Rugby's fourth representative on the PGB - the body set up to run the elite game from July 1 after last year's agreement between clubs and the Rugby Football Union. Johnson joins Gloucester chairman Tom Walkinshaw, Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler and PRL chief executive Mark McCafferty.
Former England team-mate Jason Leonard has joined RFU head Francis Baron, the director of elite rugby Rob Andrew, and John Spencer, chairman of Club England, in the RFU's party. The panel will be chaired by RFU management board chairman Martyn Thomas. "I am delighted with the opportunity to be a part of the board at the start of what I believe to be a new era of success for English rugby," said Johnson.
McCafferty added: "We are extremely pleased Martin has agreed to join the PGB. It is clear his substantial experience will be a great asset."
Johnson, who captained his country to glory in 2003 before quitting the game in 2005, received the unanimous backing of Guinness Premiership clubs at a Premier Rugby (PRL) board meeting yesterday.
The 84-cap former lock will be Premier Rugby's fourth representative on the PGB - the body set up to run the elite game from July 1 after last year's agreement between clubs and the Rugby Football Union. Johnson joins Gloucester chairman Tom Walkinshaw, Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler and PRL chief executive Mark McCafferty.
Former England team-mate Jason Leonard has joined RFU head Francis Baron, the director of elite rugby Rob Andrew, and John Spencer, chairman of Club England, in the RFU's party. The panel will be chaired by RFU management board chairman Martyn Thomas. "I am delighted with the opportunity to be a part of the board at the start of what I believe to be a new era of success for English rugby," said Johnson.
McCafferty added: "We are extremely pleased Martin has agreed to join the PGB. It is clear his substantial experience will be a great asset."
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