TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 17, 2010) - Rainy River Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:RR) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Richard Pettit and Mr. James Excell to the Company's Board of Directors. Messrs. Pettit and Excell will serve as independent directors.

Mr. Pettit has over three decades of experience as a Chartered Accountant, principally with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP ("PWC"). At PWC he was a senior partner of their Corporate Advisory and Restructuring practice and was responsible for managing large and complex corporate restructurings until he retired in June 2009. In addition to his experience in dealing with secured lenders and regulators, he has extensive director experience with volunteer boards and brings strong financial literacy as well as analytical and risk management skills to the Rainy Board. Mr. Pettit was awarded the designation of Certified Director by the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Mr. Excell is a Metallurgical Engineer with extensive senior executive, mine management and process engineering experience. His career includes more than three decades with BHP Billiton in Canada and internationally, where he was responsible for overseeing the management and development some of the world's premier mining projects, including the EKATI diamond mine in the Northwest Territories, where he led the construction, commissioning and subsequent operation of the $700 million development. Mr. Excell has received numerous awards for his significant contributions to the business community at large and mining industry in particular, including Resource Person of the Year by the Alberta Chamber of Commerce, Businessman of the Year from the NWT Chamber of Commerce, and on behalf of BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc., the Viola R. MacMillan Developers Award for outstanding leadership in management and financing for exploration and development of mineral resources.

"We are pleased to welcome Rick Pettit and Jim Excell to Rainy's Board of Directors and appreciate the considerable strength they add to the Board," commented Raymond Threlkeld, president and CEO. "The financial and development experience that these two gentlemen bring is second to none and will be invaluable to the Company and our shareholders as we move forward with our development of the Rainy River gold deposit. We are also pleased that, with their addition to the Board, a majority of our directors are now independent and we are in a position to meet the corporate governance standards expected of more senior corporations."

In connection with their appointment, Messrs. Pettit and Excell have each been granted options to acquire 200,000 common shares of the Company at the exercise price of $6.75 per share for a period of 5 years, subject to vesting.