Brian Moore's wife resigns as CEO of PWR

Belinda Moore has resigned from her role as chief executive officer of Premiership Women’s Rugby in a shock development less than a week into the new season.

Moore took up the position in January last year after being identified by the Rugby Football Union as “the perfect candidate” for the role.

She was given a remit to oversee a 10-year plan to professionalise the women’s top flight and put the league on a path towards sustainability, but her sudden departure was confirmed in a five-sentence press release issued by the PWR board on Tuesday afternoon.

No reason was given for her resignation, which comes just days into the new season and less than a year out from a women’s World Cup which England will host.

Moore, who re-launched the women’s top flight during her tenure and secured a first ever broadcast deal with TNT Sports and is the wife of Telegraph rugby columnist Brian, had previously spoken of her ambition to capitalise on “the Lionesses effect” and for women’s rugby to broaden its commercial reach.