A WHITCHURCH rugby club stalwart has taken a step up in his sporting administration life after he was elected to the Rugby Football Union council.

Paul Kaminski, who has represented the Edgeley Road club from player to chairman for many years, received the nod after a closely-contested ballot.

Mr Kaminski, who said he was delighted with the honour of serving on the council, will be a member for the North Midlands. He is already chair of the Midlands Division Organising Committee, which is responsible for leagues below National Two.

He will replace the long-serving Stuart Potts of Telford Hornets, who is to step down. 

However, a full committee was needed to break an original tie of 21 votes for both Mr Kaminski and Judith Phelps, also from Telford Hornets.

The meeting, held at Dudley Kingwinford, saw both candidates make a presentation and then answer  questions from the floor.

After a ballot of full committee members, Mr Kaminski was elected by 15 votes to 12.

Mr Kaminski played rugby for Whitchurch and then became a referee with the Staffordshire Society for nine years.

When injury ended his refereeing career, Mr Kaminski became an administrator, serving Whitchurch in a number of roles including fixtures secretary for more than 20 years and chairman for six.

He was secretary then president of Shropshire, president of North Midlands, North Midlands competitions chairman and a member of the RFU competitions committee.

*For more reaction to his election, see next week’s Whitchurch Herald.