Hussey Takes The Reins As New IRFU President
Dublin businessman John Hussey created a piece of sporting history today when he became the first member from St. Mary’s College RFC to be enrolled as President of the Irish Rugby Football Union.
John Hussey was officially installed as the IRFU’s new President at the Union’s annual Council Meeting in the Aviva Stadium, taking the reins from outgoing President Caleb Powell.
He assumes the highest office in Irish rugby following a life long association with St. Mary’s College, a club that was founded 111 years ago.
As a wing three-quarters he was a member of the school’s Junior and Senior Cup teams but on joining the club and being capped for the Leinster Junior Interprovincial team in 1966, he had his career cut short by a succession of injuries. He was elected President of St. Mary’s for the 1988/89 season.
A well-known chartered accountant, Hussey’s high profile business life includes a 12-year stint as Managing Partner of Arthur Young & Company, after which he spent a number of years as a director of two companies involved in structured financing.
He was also a consultant to a number of organisations in the areas of governance and strategic planning.
He has held directorships in a number of other companies, including New Stadium Ltd which has been responsible for the development of the Aviva Stadium.
President of the Leinster Branch in 1998/99, he was first elected to the IRFU in 1996, and since then he has made a major contribution to Irish rugby.
He was Chairman of the Strategic Review Committee which produced the first IRFU Strategic Plan (2003-2007).
As part of this process, the Union made changes to its laws to create a new Management Committee. Hussey became its first Chairman and served the maximum two three-year terms (2003-2009) in that capacity.
He also chaired a number of other committees including the IRFU Academy and the IRFU Charitable Trust, of which he remains a trustee.
He was also Chairman of the Magners League (now RaboDirect PRO 12) for a seven-year period, noted for the tournament’s consolidation and growth in stature and popularity in Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and led the negotiations which recently brought the admission of two teams from Italy.
He is married to Patricia and has two sons, John Paul and David.