Described as a dedicated communications professional, with a proven track record and more than a decade of experience working with international sports organisations, Wilkinson is due to start his new role at the end of March. 

He joins the Dublin-based body at a time when it is claimed that rugby continues to experience record global participation, fan and commercial growth.

Wilkinson will join World Rugby's communications team, responsible for implementing and driving the international governing body's communications strategy as the sport seeks to continue its growth and inspire a new generation of fans.

He will work across external and internal communications, events and fan-engagement.

In his previous role with Rio 2016, Wilkinson led the development and execution of an international communications strategy to engage a global audience of over four billion.

Prior to working with Rio 2016, he held positions at the British Olympic Association, including as communications manager which saw him direct elements of the country's communications strategy for the London 2012, Beijing 2008 and Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.

"I am thrilled to be joining the experienced team at World Rugby," Wilkinson said.

"I have been a rugby fan from a young age and was delighted to play my part in rugby sevens' integration into the Olympic Movement for the Rio 2016 Games.

"I am excited to be bringing my sporting and major event experience to the International Federation.

"There are already more people playing rugby and fans engaging with the sport through social media than ever before, and I am looking forward to working with the team to maximise the sport's enormous potential."

World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper added: "Phil's outstanding track record and significant communications experience in the fast-paced world of international sport is perfectly suited to World Rugby’s strategic mission to inspire even greater numbers of new players and fans around the world.

"Phil joins a dynamic communications team that is successfully executing our global media and fan-engagement strategies at a time when the sport is experiencing record growth on and off the field in emerging markets with Japan 2019, the first Rugby World Cup in Asia, just around the corner.

"Phil's Olympic experience will be invaluable as rugby sevens continues to thrive and we look forward to what promises to be a spectacular 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco."

Wilkinson replaces James Fitzgerald, who took over from Ben Nichols as the senior media and communications manager at the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) earlier this month.

WADA had been without a senior communications manager since Nichols, who is now the head of communications at the Commonwealth Games Federation, stood down last May.

Fitzgerald officially began his new role, based at WADA's headquarters in Montreal, three weeks ago. 

As well as serving as the media and communications manager at World Rugby, he also worked in a similar role at the International Cricket Council in Dubai.

Fitzgerald will be WADA's main media contact as the organisation continues to deal with the fall-out from the Russian doping scandal.