Northampton Saints name Chapman as new chief executive

Premiership champions Northampton Saints person appointed Julia Chapman arsenic their caller main executive.

She has been promoted from main operating serviceman to switch Mark Darbon, who is leaving nan nine to go CEO of golf's R&A, based astatine St Andrew's successful Scotland.

A postgraduate of Cambridge University and qualified chartered accountant, Robinson first joined Saints arsenic finance head successful 2016 and had a cardinal domiciled successful helping stabilise nan club's finances during nan Covid pandemic.

"I’ve expanded my domiciled complete nan past fewer years, truthful this feels for illustration a earthy progression for me," she told nan nine website.

"We’ve seen a play of success, connected and disconnected nan pitch, complete nan past fewer years but location are still truthful galore opportunities for america to create and a batch to play for arsenic a business."

She continued: "There are still challenges up too, some for Saints specifically and wrong nan wider scenery of rugby much generally, but we person a really beardown strategy successful spot and having an in-depth knowing of nan club’s finances gives maine a caput commencement wrong my caller domiciled arsenic we look to build a sustainable early by returning to profitability arsenic soon arsenic possible.”

Northampton beat Bath 25-21 astatine Twickenham successful past season's Premiership last - their first title triumph for a decade.

The club, though, announced a £1.1m nonaccomplishment earlier taxation successful nan twelvemonth to nan extremity of June 2023, contempt a club-record turnover of almost £22m.

Chapman will return up nan caller domiciled astatine nan extremity of November erstwhile Darbon departs for his caller occupation pinch nan R&A, who organise nan Open Championship each year.

Describing her arsenic nan "stand-out choice", president John White said: “We were very keen to guarantee a soft modulation pursuing Mark Darbon’s successful tenure, and we person nary uncertainty that Julia’s knowing of our priorities moving forwards will guarantee that we proceed to amended really we operate, and thrust occurrence some connected and disconnected nan pitch.

“Northampton Saints is successful bully health, but continuous betterment is what we are each about, truthful we will invited her penetration and ideas moving forwards."

Chapman is nan 2nd female main executive successful nan Premiership, on pinch Andrea Pinchem of Leicester Tigers - Lucy Wray stepped down from nan domiciled astatine Saracens astatine nan extremity of January.

Saints will begin nan caller play pinch a re-match against Bath astatine The Rec connected Friday 20 September.