Glynn elected IRFU president

18:25, 20 Jul 2012

William B. (Billy) Glynn has been elected the 125th President of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) at the organisation's annual Council meeting in the Aviva Stadium, today.

A retired solicitor and Revenue sheriff living in Galway City, Glynn played as a wing three-quarter for Galwegians RFC and the Connacht senior interprovincial team for a number of years.

He was also selected for a Final Irish Trial in 1965 and was chosen on an Ireland under 23 XV. In 1966, at the age of 24, his career was curtailed due to a serious neck injury.

In his rugby administrative career, Glynn was chairman of the Connacht senior team selection committee (1988-06), manager of the Connacht team between 1996 and 2000, president of the Connacht Branch in 2000-2001 and from 2000 he has been a member of the IRFU Committee, notably holding the positions as chairman of the Medical Committee, chairman of the Disciplinary Appeals Committee and as a member of the Representative Game Committee.

In addition to the election of the officers of the IRFU, honorary treasurer Tom Grace presented the final accounts for the end of season 2011-12.

Grace reported that the IRFU made a surplus of €7.8m for the year 2011-12 ahead of its budgeted outcome. This surplus arises from revenues of €67.2m and expenditure of €59.4m.

However, while reporting a surplus, Grace sounded a cautionary note to this and said: "While it is pleasing to be able to report a net surplus it is important to note that some €12.4m of revenues and €7m of costs are non-cash items.

"This effectively means that the IRFU. generated net cash of just €2.4m from its operations during the year which, whilst very welcome, is considerably less than the €7.8m surplus."