The Professional Game Board (PGB) held its first formal meeting yesterday at Twickenham Stadium. The PGB is responsible for the Elite game in England and its formation arose from the RFU/PRL eight year agreement, which came into effect on July 1st. The PGB replaces England Rugby Ltd.

The PGB is comprised of twelve members. Its Chairman is Martyn Thomas, the Chairman of the RFU Management Board. There are four RFU representatives, RFU Chief Executive, Francis Baron OBE, Elite Rugby Director Rob Andrew MBE, RFU Council member and former England, Harlequins and British & Irish Lions prop Jason Leonard OBE and RFU Council member and former England captain, John Spencer.

The Guinness Premiership clubs are represented by Tom Walkinshaw, Chairman of Premier Rugby Ltd (PRL), Mark McCafferty, Chief Executive of PRL, Leicester Tigers Chief Executive, Peter Wheeler and England Team Manager Martin Johnson OBE.

The Professional Rugby Players’ Association (PRA) is represented by its Chairman, David Barnes and Chief Executive, Damian Hopley. Geoff Cooke OBE, Executive Director of First Division Rugby represents FDR.

A number of items were discussed at the first meeting, including objectives for professional rugby for the 2008/09 season, the EPS squads that were announced on July 1st, IRB Regulation 9, Code of Conduct issues and the British & Irish Lions 2009 tour schedule.

Chairman of the PGB, Martyn Thomas said “It was a very positive meeting and we covered a lot of ground in the two hour session as we’d sorted out all the administrative issues at a preliminary meeting in mid-April earlier this year.

“A key item on the agenda was the issue of the Guinness Premiership fixture list and the British & Irish Lions tour. The PGB has put together a proposal for the Lions and we hope to receive their views on it in due course.”

The next meeting is scheduled for September but special meetings can be called at short notice to ensure that major issues are dealt with as required.

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