All Blacks Legends: New Zealand Rugby in Crisis Following Controversial Vote
Several legendary All Blacks have voiced concerns that the unions might have significantly harmed New Zealand rugby following last week’s contentious vote.
New Zealand Rugby (NZR) members convened for a special general meeting to decide on two proposals. The first proposal, supported by both the players and NZR, sought to implement recommendations from an independent review led by chair David Pilkington. This report found the governing body to be inadequate and suggested numerous changes.
However, several provincial unions presented a counter-proposal, known as Proposal 2, which was also put to a vote.
NZRPA’s Ultimatum
A week prior to the meeting, the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) warned they would sever ties with NZR if Proposal 2 was approved. When Proposal 2 passed by a 69 to 21 vote, the NZRPA announced their intention to break away, leading to a potential internal conflict.
This situation has left both former and current All Blacks, including Sir John Kirwan, frustrated. Kirwan’s proposal was largely dismissed by the unions.
“These notable figures—Richie McCaw, Ian Kirkpatrick, Sir Michael Jones, Sir Wayne Smith, Sir Steve Hansen, Sir Buck Shelford, Mils Muliaina, Jeff Wilson, Sean Fitzpatrick—all supported Proposal 1,” Kirwan told The Breakdown. “Yet, some unions chose to disregard their opinions and revert to the status quo.”
Provincial Concerns
Former All Black Jeff Wilson believes many provincial unions distrust those at the top of the game but acknowledges that choosing Proposal 2 poses a “very, very big risk.” He questions why these unions ignored the recommendations, suggesting they feared they wouldn’t receive the respect or support they deserve under Proposal 1. He warns that this decision risks creating a significant split between professional and amateur rugby.
Grassroots Impact
All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina argues that Proposal 1 would have benefited the amateur game by enhancing grassroots efforts, something Proposal 2 fails to achieve. He questions whether it would be so bad if the professional game separated from NZR, suggesting that the relationship between all parties is broken.
Governance Review’s Effectiveness
Kirwan also questioned the value of the governance review, which cost nearly a million dollars, implying it was a waste since the unions were always likely to veto widespread changes. He criticized the current governance for agreeing to the review only to reject its findings.
Overall, the vote has left New Zealand rugby in a precarious position, with legends of the game concerned about its future direction and unity.
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