The 56-year-old former investment banker from Surrey had overall responsibility for the delivery of London 2012 and played the key role in raising the £2 billion ($3.1 billion/€2.5 billion) budget from the private sector to stage the Olympics and Paralympics.

Deighton was made a life peer following London 2012 as he took the title Lord Deighton of Carshalton so that he could be appointed Commercial Secretary to the Treasury by Prime Minister David Cameron.

"Everyone recognises that the London Olympics and Paralympics have set a high benchmark for international sports events that follow," said Deighton.

"I want to bring the knowledge and experience gleaned from my time with London 2012 to help ensure that the organisation, delivery and feel-good factor of the Rugby World Cup in 2015 is right up there with London 2012."

Deighton is the latest member of London 2012 to take a senior role at England Rugby 2015.

Former London 2012 director of sport Debbie Jevans now serves as England Rugby 2015 chief executive, while former London 2012 head of sport operations Neil Snowball was appointed rugby operations director earlier this month.
 

Deighton's is one of two new appointments to the board along with Rugby Football Union (RFU) chairman and former England captain Bill Beaumont.

"I am very excited to be part of a home Rugby World Cup in 2015 and I will work tirelessly with my fellow board members and the executive of ER 2015 to ensure that we deliver a World Cup of which the whole country can be proud," said Beaumont.

Beaumont and Deighton join a Board that consists of Jevans, England 2015 chairman Andy Cosslett, Professional Game Board chairman Ian Metcalfe, Former Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office Ian Watmore, RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie, RFU chief financial officer Stephen Brown, RFU Championship chairman Geoff Irvine and Premiership Rugby chairman Quentin Smith.

"Our job at England Rugby 2015 is to build the strength and appeal of this great game by delivering a brilliant Rugby World Cup," said Cosslett.

"To do this we need to call on the talents and experience of people drawn from both inside and outside the world of rugby.

"I am delighted to welcome Bill and Paul to the Board."

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