Experienced manager Simon Gilham has been appointed Chairman of the newly established Tier 2 Board, taking up the role with immediate effect.
Gilham spent more than 20 years in French professional rugby and was also involved with CA Brive, becoming the first non-French president of the Top 14 and Pro D2, and witnessed first-hand the success of second-tier rugby in France. Regular TV slots and crowd numbers are no match for the English Championship, which is undergoing a facelift for the 2025/26 season.
During his time at Brive, he acted as a shareholder, manager and president and participated in various committees and working groups for European professional rugby. In June 2024, Gilham stepped down as Brive’s president and now serves as vice president.
Gilham, who works for communications giant Vivendi, is joined on the board by RFU Performance Rugby managing director, Conor O’Shea, RFU commercial director, Stuart Ramsey, RFU committee member, Terry Burwell and former Coventry Rugby CEO Nick Johnston. Nottingham CEO, Simon Beatham, and Simon Cohen, former CEO of Leicester Tigers and current Head of Championship on the RFU Committee.
Gillham said of his appointment: “I am delighted to be appointed as Chairman of the Tier 2 Board of Directors. In my discussions and observations over recent weeks, I have been impressed by the standards of Championship rugby both on and off the rugby field. We must now build on our existing strengths and work with the RFU, Premiership Rugby, RPA and all English rugby clubs to raise standards even further. This includes talent and infrastructure development, strict financial discipline, active promotion/relegation systems, and increased visibility through media and sponsorship deals. “I want to go quickly.”
The appointment of Gilham, who was a former board member of the company that owns sports TV powerhouse Canal Plus, will improve the Championship’s chances of securing a broadcast partner.
Conor O’Shea is delighted that someone of his caliber will now be the figurehead for a league that has lost its place in the structure of English rugby.
O’Shea said: “We are really excited to have Simon chair the Tier 2 Board and help drive our plans to develop the second tier of English rugby. “His commercial experience, as well as his experience in French rugby, particularly in Pro D2, widely regarded as one of the most successful second divisions globally, will be invaluable.”
