Tom takes top job

PETER TOM has become the most powerful man in Premier League rugby.

Guernsey-based Tom (pictured), who is the retired chairman of Aggregate Industries and Ronez, was this week announced as the new chairman of Premier Rugby that looks after the country's top 12 clubs in the Guinness Premiership.

Tom, who is also the top man at Leicester Tigers, was previously the vice-chairman of Premier Rugby.

'This is great news for Guernsey and for him,' said the chairman of the Guernsey Sports Commission and former deputy chief minister Stuart Falla.

'You won't find a more committed man to his sport and he's a friend of Guernsey.'

In undertaking his new position, Tom has pledged his support to retaining promotion and relegation in the leagues.

'At a chairmen's meeting in January, there was a vote where a substantial majority of clubs said we should retain promotion and relegation,' he said.

'We've always said we were in favour of promotion and relegation and at the end of the day, as chairman of Premier Rugby I will be representing all of the clubs.'