The PRB chair will play an important role in determining Welsh rugby's future

Marianne Økland is set to stay on as chair of the Professional Rugby Board, WalesOnline has learnt.

The Welsh Rugby Union has been searching for a new chair of the PRB since Malcolm Wall left in March and Økland has occupied the position on an interim basis for the past seven months.

Former Harlequins director of rugby and Melbourne Storm CEO Mark Evans was one potential candidate who was in the mix to replace Wall.

But WalesOnline has been told the WRU has decided to offer the role on a permanent basis to Økland who has been on the PRB board since May 2020.

The recruitment process has been outsourced externally to specialist firm GatenbySanderson.

Established in 2019, the PRB oversees the professional game on behalf of the WRU and the country’s four professional clubs.

Born in Norway and a graduate of the Norwegian School of Economics, Økland has chaired a broad range of board committees herself, with focus on risk management, audit and corporate governance.

Økland joined the board in 2020 as its second independent non-executive member, alongside Amanda Blanc, who had taken over as chair from inaugural incumbent David Lovett.

The board also includes a senior representative from each of the four clubs, the chair of the Welsh Rugby Players' Association and two senior WRU officials.

As PRB chair Økland would also sit on the WRU board.

A critical moment

Økland is chair of the PRB at a critical juncture in the game's history, with the WRU planning to cut one of Wales' four professional teams with the Ospreys and Scarlets currently in the firing line.

A state of the game summit is pencilled in for December, with a decision on who the three teams will be set for next March.

It goes without saying the chair of the PRB will play a critical role in determining the future structure of the professional game in Wales.

Økland remaining as PRB chair coincides with the appointment of a new WRU chair with Lyndon Faulkner replacing Richard Collier-Keywood.