Ledbury Rugby Club have appointed their first female chairman with the election of Jill Matthew to the post at the club's annual meeting.

Matthew, who was previously secretary of the club for five years, has been succeeded in that role by Carol Stephens.

Elliott Thomas has been elected as vice-chairman and the new treasurer will be Les Davies with former chairman John Wilesmith moving up to be club president.

Matt Williams will be captain of the club's first XV with James While and Andy Eagle skippering the second and third XVs respectively. Russ Putland will be the veterans' skipper.

Jill Matthew has been involved with the club since 1997, spending a couple of years as press officer before taking on the role as secretary.

Her reign in the chair has already begun with good news. Shipston-on-Stour's deduction of points for registration irregularities means that Ledbury will not, after all, be relegated.

Defeat in the season's final game against local rivals Hereford seemed to have consigned the club to at least a season in Midlands 4 West (South) but the reprieve means that they will continue in Midlands 3 West (South).

"I actually got the phone call to say that we would be staying up on the night of the annual meeting so that was the first announcement that I was able to make," said Matthew. "It was a nice point to come in on. The club is thrilled to be staying up - we now have a second chance and we intend to use it."

With off-the-field matters now very much in order, Matthew's focus during her period in office is likely to be the club's playing side.

"With the lottery grant we received to put our facilities in place, we had to show that everything was running right and so we concentrated on that, possibly to the detriment of the rugby," she said.

"Now we can focus on that. We have some very talented players and we need to give them some more back-up."

Ledbury are currently in the process of appointing a director of rugby and hope to be able to fill the position within the next couple of weeks.

"We are also actively recruiting players and we are hoping to take the club to where it ought to be," said Matthew.

"We were close to promotion a couple of seasons ago and I would like to think we can aim for Midlands 2 within the next couple of years.

"It's a treat of a club to be part of, they are such a nice bunch of people."