Former All Blacks Rugby World Cup winners David Kirk and Keven Mealamu have been ratified as two of the eight members on New Zealand Rugby’s (NZR) new board.

Kirk, who was the All Blacks’ captain when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, is NZR’s new chairperson while Rowena Davenport is the only candidate who was not ratified.

The ratification of the new NZR board comes after a period of upheaval in New Zealand in 2023 when the country’s provincial unions and stakeholders such as the Super Rugby franchises and the NZRPA were involved in an acrimonious saga over the governance of NZR.

Opposing factions settled their differences

However, the opposing factions agreed to settle their differences last September which allowed for a new board to be elected.

Apart from Kirk and 2011 and 2015 World Cup winner Mealamu, Caren Rangi, Catherine Savage, Doug Jones, Grant Jarrold, Greg Barclay and Julia Raue are the other members who will take office as part of the NZR board in 2025.

All eight candidates were endorsed by the New Zealand’s 26 provincial unions and the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board and Kirk’s Kirk’s election means he will step down from his position as New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) president.

Meanwhile, fellow new board members Jones (New Zealand Māori Rugby Board) and Jarrold (Crusaders) will also resign from those governance positions as a prerequisite for all NZR board members is that they have to be independent.

Former All Blacks scrum-half Kirk currently lives in Sydney but will attend all NZR board meetings in New Zealand. He replaces Patsy Reddy, who confirmed last year that she wouldn’t seek re-appointment.

“I am honoured and excited to be appointed to the board of NZR. We have an excellent board and I look forward to the work ahead,” said Kirk.

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Rachel Taulelei, the chairperson of the NZR Appointments and Remuneration panel said she is delighted that eight of the nine board members ratified but admitted to being disappointed that a full compliment was not appointed.

“We are over the moon to have eight exceptional candidates ratified for appointment to the NZR board,” she said. “They are extremely capable, motivated and ready to start a new chapter for the organisation and game.

“The process has been challenging, but rewarding, and the result is testament to everyone’s commitment to move forward positively.

“Our only disappointment is that Rowena Davenport’s appointment was not ratified. Rowena has contributed an immense amount to the board and to the game, and we felt her skills and experience complemented the rest of the board well.”

The panel have confirmed that a process will be held early in 2025 to appoint a ninth and final NZR board member.

‘I remain committed to the organisation’

Davenport, who is the Otago Rugby Football Union’s chairperson since 2019 and previously served on the NZR board since 2022, said: “While naturally I’m disappointed by the outcome, I remain committed to the organisation and future of New Zealand rugby.

“I joined the board with great optimism, and it’s that perspective I take forward.

“The appointments panel ran an incredibly well-managed and robust process, and the eight ratified directors are outstanding. I’m excited for what they will bring to NZR and have no doubt they will be able to pick up the mantle quickly and with great effect.

“As someone who has spent the past decade dedicated to inclusion and governance of rugby in New Zealand, I will continue to be involved with the game through the New Zealand Rugby Foundation board and as an avid supporter of both the community and professional games.”

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Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/all-blacks-two-world-cup-winners-added-to-new-zealand-rugby-board