NZR ‘acknowledges’ All Blacks players’ explosive threat with the game on the brink of civil war

October 15, 2023, Saint Denis, Seine Saint Denis, France: New Zealand Team before the Rugby World Cup quarterfinal match between Ireland and New Zealand at Stade de France – St Denis – France..New Zealand won 28-24 (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) have attempted to play down the threat from the New Zealand Rugby Players Association’s (NZRPA) extraordinary letter, which could split the game apart.

The NZRPA have stated that they will break away from the governing body should a proposal from some provincial unions be voted through next week.

Players are unhappy by the offer known as Proposal 2, which according to the NZRPA goes against an independent review that stated the NZR was ‘not fit for purpose’.

That report recommended sweeping changes within the organisation but the unions put forward a counter-offer which the letter claims will just keep the “status quo.”

Strong support from players past and present

The letter has been signed by All Blacks past and present, including Richie McCaw, David Kirk, Sam Cane, Sam Whitelock and Will Jordan.

Should Proposal 2 get passed at a special general meeting on May 30, instead of the NZRPA-backed idea put forward as a result of the independent panel’s review, it could well start a civil war in New Zealand.

NZR have since responded to the NZRPA’s threat, ‘acknowledging’ their grievances but insisting that, irrespective of the outcome, it will not affect the All Blacks going forward.

“The New Zealand Rugby (NZR) Board acknowledges the public debate on governance reform in regard to the important decision to be made by voting members at the Special General Meeting (SGM) on 30 May,” the board said in a statement.

“The Board also notes the views of the Rugby Players Association expressed in their open letter circulated yesterday.

“We remain committed to working closely with all stakeholders to reach a resolution and will give effect to the outcome that NZR’s voting members choose at the SGM.

“Importantly, it is the Board’s firm intention that any outcome on governance reform will not impact on Teams in Black, competitions and commercial relationships.

“NZR’s operational activities will continue as normal.”

All Blacks players in revolt threat to New Zealand Rugby after extraordinary letter plunges game into crisis

More support needed

The NZRPA have received public support from Taranaki, who criticised the proposal put forward by other provincial unions, but they will require more than that to succeed on May 30.

A two-thirds majority is needed to succeed at the SGM and the larger unions could well join forces to block the NZRPA-backed idea.

“Having observed the process for forming this proposal, we do not believe this proposal is anywhere near robust enough – it is a compromised version of the recommendations made by the review panel,” TRFU chair Dan Radcliffe wrote in an email to stakeholders.

“It has been put together by a group of PU Chairs who care deeply about the game, and while we recognise their intention is a good one, we do not believe this proposal is adequate to form a board structure for what is a $3.5 billion organisation.

“This proposal requires three Provincial Union members to have seats on the NZ Rugby board.

“While this is good in theory, this structure is not serving us well as a Provincial Union (this is the current system), as the calibre of the candidates we are putting forward as provincial unions, is simply not high enough.

“Because of this, we are struggling to attract high calibre independents to work alongside the PU reps, and the board is not performing at the level that is required. As a result, the whole organisation is performing well below where it should be and the game at all levels is suffering.”