Ex-Wales captain Liza Burgess has been elected as the first female director on the Welsh Rugby Union board in its 138 year history. 

During her playing career she earned 93 caps and was part of Wales' first ever international game against England in 1987. She captained her national side 62 times and played in four World Cups. 

Burgess told BBC Sport Wales: "It's a really exciting opportunity and I'm really looking forward to taking the role on.

"It just goes to show what great opportunities exist, not only for myself but for women in sport to show that it can happen.

"And we've got these role models now that young girls can look up to and think there is an opportunity for me within Welsh rugby."

WRU chairman Gareth Davies has previously encouraged clubs to increase diversity on the traditionally male-dominated governing body council.

He said: "This is a truly historic moment for the good governance of our game.

"It's a moment we have worked towards and one which we must continue to work towards recreating, again and again, as we strive to increase and diversify the pool of talent which represents our great clubs at board level."

Burgess, 55, retired after the Women's Six Nations in 2007 and has since made history off the pitch. She has coached the first women's Barbarians team and is now coaching Gloucester-Hartpury women in the Tyrrells Premier 15s. 

The appointment will officially be confirmed tomorrow.