Former All Blacks Captain Urges Change Amidst Rugby Union Civil War Threat in New Zealand
Former All Blacks captain Ian Kirkpatrick is calling on New Zealand’s provincial unions to support governance reform at next week’s special general meeting of New Zealand Rugby (NZR) in Wellington. This follows an independent review that found the governing body is “not fit for purpose.”
Despite the review’s recommendations, some provincial unions have put forward a counter-proposal known as Proposal 2, which has led to the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) threatening to withdraw their right for NZR to govern rugby union in the country.
Kirkpatrick, who earned 39 caps as a back-row for the All Blacks between 1967 and 1977, acknowledges the valuable contributions of the provincial unions but believes change is necessary to modernize the sport. “We are going to get that. But we have to be big enough to realise something has to be done to make it better,” he told Stuff.
The Need for Change
The former captain emphasizes the need to progress from the past, stating, “We need to get into the year of 2024, not 1924.” He argues that an independent board with the right qualifications and rugby expertise is crucial, rather than the current “in-house” nomination process.
Kirkpatrick, who serves as NZR’s patron, echoes the sentiments of fellow ex-All Black Sir John Kirwan, who earlier called for a fresh governance structure. “The system, over the years, has worked but as we have moved into the professional era things aren’t quite the same as they were,” Kirkpatrick added.
Avoiding a “Civil War”
With the threat of a “civil war” in New Zealand rugby, Kirkpatrick hopes the provincial unions will vote for Proposal 1, which aligns with the independent review’s recommendations, to avoid further conflict and move the sport forward.
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