Ex-All Black: ‘Rome is burning’ after contentious vote threatens New Zealand Rugby split…
The New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) remains steadfast despite the governing body’s adoption of the controversial Proposal 2.
In a special general meeting on Thursday, a vote was held to decide which motion to pass, with the counter-offer, supported by several provincial unions, emerging victorious.
Last week, the NZRPA warned they might sever ties with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) if the diluted proposal was approved.
With Proposal 2 now adopted, it stipulates that three of the nine NZR board members must have prior experience on provincial boards.
Criticisms Arise
This differs from Proposal 1, endorsed by former and current All Blacks, which aimed to follow recommendations from a critical independent review.
The Pilkington Report criticized NZR as “not fit for purpose” and advocated for all nine board members to be independently appointed.
Former All Black Arran Pene, part of the NZ Māori Rugby board, called the approval of Proposal 2 “a kick in the rear end.”
“We all love this game but, to a certain extent, Rome is burning, so we need to get on with things,” Pene stated. “We’ve faced similar battles since the game went professional in 1995 and have experienced numerous challenges.”
Meanwhile, NZRPA chief executive Rob Nichol maintains their threat to split from the governing body remains intact.
“We aim to collaborate to ensure sound decisions for professional rugby,” he said. “We will not trust New Zealand Rugby to make those decisions under the current governance structure.”
New Zealand’s ‘Civil War’ Intensifies as Proposal Backed by Richie McCaw and Sam Cane Rejected
Nichol reiterated his earlier stance, asserting that the “status quo” persists following Thursday’s vote.
“The expert panel clearly outlined necessary actions in their recommendations,” he said. “These recommendations had support from NZR, NZRC, Maori Rugby board, Super Rugby clubs, NZRPA, and a substantial group of provincial unions.”
“It was a prime opportunity to implement the needed changes. It’s highly regrettable that we missed this chance and have ended up maintaining the status quo or worse.”
Current Player’s Perspective
Blues captain and current All Black Patrick Tuipulotu expressed his disappointment upon hearing the news.
“I’m a bit disappointed,” he admitted. “But for the future of rugby, whatever we decide, we must do it together. From now on, the conversation must remain open. Although Proposal 1 didn’t pass, we must work together to reach our goals.”
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