World Rugby has announced the appointment of David Hands as Secretary of the World Rugby Hall of Fame, supporting Chairman John Eales.

An acclaimed writer with a deep understanding of the sport and its history, Hands spent 28 years as the rugby correspondent for The Times, covering the first six Rugby World Cups and six British and Irish Lions tour among more than 500 international matches. Since retiring in 2010, he has reported as a freelancer on the last two Rugby World Cups and is currently the president of the Rugby Union Writers’ Club.

Hands has previously sat on the World Rugby Hall of Fame panel, but now takes on the role of Secretary and together with Eales, a double Rugby World Cup winner with Australia and a Hall of Fame inductee himself, will oversee the nomination and voting process for the 2018 inductees.

The state-of-the-art World Rugby Hall of Fame opened in November 2017 and enables fans to take an inspirational journey through time using the latest HD touch-screen technology, travelling from the game’s humble origin to the modern day with more than nine million men, women and children playing the game in World Rugby’s 121 member unions.

Eales said: “I am delighted that David has accepted the offer to become Secretary of the Hall of Fame. Few in rugby share the depth of David’s knowledge, insights, passion and expertise. His personal integrity and the respect he has for rugby globally will be pivotal in enhancing the impact of the World Rugby Hall of Fame.”

Hands said: “I’m delighted to be able to contribute to World Rugby’s efforts to recognise influential figures in the game. I would also like to pay tribute to the work done for the Hall of Fame by my predecessor Chris Thau, and hope I can bring some of the same depth of knowledge of the game’s history to bear.”

Rugby Borough Council will be hosting a number of corporate activities at the World Rugby Hall of Fame this week, located in the birthplace of rugby, culminating in free access to the public on Sunday, 25 March.

For more on the World Rugby Hall of Fame, visit www.worldrugby.org/halloffame.