NZ Rugby Forum signals changes
01/04/2008
allblacks.com
NZRU
The changing landscape of rugby, sport and society will require changes to the rugby landscape which will be explored in the coming months following last week's national rugby forum.
The Provincial Union and Franchise Rugby Forum ended with a unanimous agreement that change is necessary and development of an action plan across a range of areas which were the focus of discussion and intensive workshops during the Forum.
“There was a clear mandate over the two days that we need to change if we are to respond to the changing landscape both in New Zealand and globally, and if we are to meet the needs and expectations of rugby supporters, players, and officials at all levels,” said New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew.
“We also recognised that we have a lot of positives in our game that we can build on. We now have a clear direction in some of the areas we need to commence work on including some immediate priorities,” he said.
Four areas of work were identified. They were:
• Refreshing and revising a vision for the game which encompasses all rugby and rugby organisations nationwide, with the aim of having this accepted and adopted by all Unions by the middle of 2008;
• Competitions including a timetable for a review of the Air New Zealand Cup in 2008 to be completed by August 2008, and preliminary work on the next generation of SANZAR competitions and Rebel Sport Super 14;
• A major review of the structure and governance of rugby across the country; and
• The development of principles for working together and communicating across rugby in New Zealand;
“Many of these issues are inter-linked so we will need to keep updating the work as things move and change.”
The work streams will be implemented with involvement and input from a cross-section of Provincial Union and Franchise representatives.
All 26 Provincial Unions and five Franchises were represented at the Forum along with the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association and a number of invited guests including player representatives Jono Gibbes and David Gibson, former All Blacks coach John Hart and former Black Ferns captain and New Zealand Maori Rugby Board member Farah Palmer.
The Forum was led by an independent facilitator.
Post-Forum comments included:
East Coast Rugby Union CEO Neil Alton: “It was very positive. I came away with a better insight into some of the challenges and a clearer way ahead. There’s a lot of work to be done but everyone has agreed to move forward in a positive approach.”
Chiefs franchise chairman Graeme Elvin: “I came with some trepidation around any expectations of change, particularly during the first day. It was good to have a positive outcome from the second day. We recognised that while there are differences, everyone is positive about the game, and we can work from that. It was superb really.”
