The chief executive of Premiership Women’s Rugby, Belinda Moore, is stepping down in October “to focus on other opportunities”.
The news was not expected and comes after just one round of the new PWR season has been played.
She is just 22 months into her tenure and the women’s World Cup begins in England in August.
Moore oversaw the transition from the English women’s domestic league being owned by the Rugby Football Union to becoming an independent company.
No successor has been announced, with members of the PWR board expected to take temporary control.
A statement by the league gave little away on the circumstances surrounding Moore’s exit: “Belinda Moore has made the decision to move on from Premier Women’s Rugby Ltd (PWR) to focus on other opportunities and will be stepping down this month.”
Moore also secured the league’s current broadcast deal with TNT Sports and spearheaded the Powered Differently season-opening campaign launches.
There will be disappointment that she isn’t staying through to next year’s World Cup, when the league expected to benefit from increased coverage and interest.
Board members expected to be involved in covering Moore’s responsibilities until a successor is found include chairwoman Genevieve Shore, Claire Rogan and Kelly Simmons.
