New Zealand Rugby Board Chair Dame Patsy Reddy. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
The governance reform saga at New Zealand Rugby is over with the search for a new board now set to begin.
New Zealand Rugby have announced an agreement has finally been reached between stakeholders on how to implement the reform.
The governance battle had been divisive, with the Players Association (NZRPA) at one point threatening to quit New Zealand Rugby and form a new body to run the professional game if a proposal put forward by a group of provincial unions was adopted.
NZRPA boss Rob Nichol. Photo: Photosport
Those provincial unions wanted to guarantee previous provincial union experience on the NZR Board.
However, the stakeholder group, which included representatives from Super Rugby franchises, New Zealand Māori Rugby Board (NZMRB), The Players Association, Provincial Unions and Tausoa Fa'atasi (Pasifika Advisory Group), have come to a compromise.
Discussions commenced after NZR's annual general meeting (AGM) in July, with the stakeholder group agreeing to work together on the implementation of the new governance framework and process for appointing the NZR Board that had been approved at a special general meeting (SGM) in May.
At that SGM in May, Provincial Unions rejected governance change proposal, voting for a second proposal, backed by a group of PUs, instead.
The NZR Board appointment process can now commence, starting with the formation of the new stakeholder panel (the Panel), followed closely by the formation of the NZR Appointments and Remuneration Panel (ARP).
The Panel will invite the NZ Schools Rugby Union and the NZ Rugby Foundation to join, appoint an independent chair and review the framework that will be used to recruit the NZR Board.
The Panel will then appoint three people to the six person ARP, with the NZR Board appointing one and nominating two independent members in consultation with the Institute of Directors, one of whom will be chair.
NZR's voting members are set to approve amendments to the constitution as soon as possible.
Rugby Players Association chief executive Rob Nichol believes the agreement is a major milestone for the game in New Zealand.
"This agreement is significant and ensures high-quality candidates who believe they have the required experience, skills and competencies can trust the appointments process. We want people to know that if they are successful they will be joining an NZR Board that has the capability and mandate to govern the game on behalf of all stakeholders."
Canterbury chair and spokesperson for the Provincial Unions Peter Winchester said it had been a constructive process that considered the various rugby stakeholder perspectives.
"We believe this governance framework and appointment process will result in an independent NZR Board that has the required skills to govern in the best interests of the game."
The key constitutional changes would result in the Panel formally re-named to the Stakeholder Panel to better reflect its role and membership, while the membership of the Panel will be expanded to include NZ Schools Rugby Union and the NZ Rugby Foundation.
Another change means the decisions of the Panel will require a 75 percent majority vote. These include the nomination of three people to the NZR Appointments and Remunerations Panel and admissions of new Stakeholder Panel members.
There will also be adjustments made to the requirements for Māori knowledge and experience on the Board while the requirement that at least three members of the NZR Board must have "PU Board experience" will be expanded to include "PU executive management" experience.
The last phase of the implementation process will involve a formal review of the constitutional changes after two NZR Board appointment cycles have taken place.
The new independent NZR Board is expected to be in place by the end of the year.
