The Provincial Unions have rejected New Zealand Rugby's proposed governance reform and passed their own watered-down version.
NZ Rugby's "Proposal 1", backed by the NZ Rugby Players' Association and the NZ Māori Rugby Board, and essentially adopted all the recommendations from last year's independent governance review, failed to get the two thirds majority required, with a vote of 31 for and 59 against.
Proposal 2, put forward by a group of provincial unions including Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury, was voted in by a majority of 69-21.
That proposal would keep some form of provincial representation, with three of the nine directors having to have served provincial boards in the past.
Last year's independent review recommended that all nine members of the NZ Rugby board be independently appointed.
Currently the 26 provincial unions and the Māori Rugby Board nominate three of the board members.
The Players' Association, representing the country's professional players, had threatened to walk away from the game if last year's Pilkington review recommendations weren't fully implemented.
Speaking on behalf of Proposal 2, Canterbury representative Pete Winchester said it was important that those with knowledge of the community game had a seat at the "top table".
Today's decision could lead to a revolution in terms of how the professional game is managed in New Zealand.
The NZR Board acknowledges the decision made by the voting members at a Special General Meeting (SGM) today to pass an amendment to its constitution to make its governance structure more independent, with all appointments to be recommended by an Appointments Committee.
In a statement, NZ Rugby said: "This represents a significant change, and it is in the best interests of rugby that we move forward together.
"The NZR Board will implement this decision as quickly as possible, including the process for applications for Board positions to ensure it has the best possible mix of skills, diversity, and perspectives.
"We remain committed to engaging constructively with all rugby stakeholders to implement reform and provide certainty to the game.
"In the meantime, we continue to be focused on all aspects of the game, from community rugby through to our Teams in Black, competitions and sponsors."
In another statement, Rowena Duncum, at spokesperson for the unions behind the second proposal, said the new system would "ensure a modern and independent Board, which has experience and empathy for the 150,000 people who play and run the game across the country.
"Three of the Board members will be required to have amongst their governance skills, time on a provincial union board. The proposals were otherwise identical in their adoption of modern governance.
“The heart of the game remains anchored in the people who play it,” she said.
“The NZ Rugby Board oversees the entire game, bottom to top, so we are pleased the NZ Board will remain anchored in the entire game, bottom to top.
“We will have a Board capable of overseeing NZR’s international and commercial activity, and its management of the domestic game.
“This decision ensures that the NZ Rugby Board understands and appreciates how community rugby is affected by the decisions of it and the NZR."
With rnz.co.nz
More to come.
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