NZR review
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@SouthernMann said in NZR review:
It is a tough pill for PUs to swallow. For decades they have been the big swinging dicks. Now, broadly being told to go home, sort out their own backyards and leave the big decisions to the adults. They know that this will have an impact on the long-term future of their shop window product (men's domestic rugby), and don't want to lose their relevance in the NZ Rugby landscape. We will never have a fit for purpose product when there are so many self serving cooks in the kitchen
I worry it is the NZPA making a play to say amateur rugby shouldn't have a say in how the game is organised or run. As I say, I don't think they are looking to change board except to drop of PU reps. I also think NZR board is pretty keen on the changes. I am a little confused, I like it, but don't want us to get a big seperation between the grassroots and pro game.
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@canefan said in NZR review:
@Dan54 said in NZR review:
@mariner4life said in NZR review:
that reads to me like the pro players telling the archaic provinces to pull their fucking heads in and get in line
It is for sure, it's their flexing of muscles no doubt, I would actually think NZR board may actually not be far away from this too. As I said who is this new identity going to play, and aren't the players contracted to NZR anyway? So are they all going to walk out on contracts etc?
The other way to look at it is, if all the pro players walk, who will play for the ABs? And when they get flogged, what damage will that do to the brand?
I agree, so it almost seems the NZRPA is saying we will destroy game in NZ if you don't do what we say. I am sure they not, and as you say if they walk away who would play for ABs, and just as intriguing who would they play? And so earn money? And it can't happen in next couple of years anyway as a lot of players already signed to NZR until 2026 anyway.
Interesting it's only 3-4 big PUs are against it strongly anyway, I think it's Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury? -
@Dan54 said in NZR review:
Interesting it's only 3-4 big PUs are against it strongly anyway, I think it's Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury?
Haven't seen a definitive breakdown
Taranaki supports Pilkington. I think Southland does too. There will be others but most unions are keeping their mouths shut
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@kev said in NZR review:
@Mr-Fish yep they did a good job.
Ah sorry, misunderstood, thought you meant they made the deal lesser by their involvement!
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@mariner4life said in NZR review:
that reads to me like the pro players telling the archaic provinces to pull their fucking heads in and get in line
It does, but it also tells me that the Pro Players are self interested and have no interest in rugby beyond what they can make out of it.
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@booboo said in NZR review:
@mariner4life said in NZR review:
that reads to me like the pro players telling the archaic provinces to pull their fucking heads in and get in line
It does, but it also tells me that the Pro Players are self interested and have no interest in rugby beyond what they can make out of it.
of course that's true. They are employees with a very limited working life (and not high enough wages to set themselves up for life), their job is to put together arguments for their benefit.
The Governing Body are the ones who are supposed to balance things out.
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@kev said in NZR review:
The Silver Lake deal was a mistake - made lesser by the intervention of the players association. It may develop into something over time but no news todate? But it seems like Rob Nichols has let power go to his head. The threats are poor form. Talk about a swinging dick?
The trouble with the professional era is greed. Everyone thinks the game can grow forever, that players are entitled to massive contracts from billionaire owners and corporates…so we have to screw over provincial rugby.
Agree 💯
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The players association has been consistent. It's others who have gone back on their word and/or tried to change the process
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It's 15 years since the NZRU tried to do something to rationalize the professional game.
It's been apparent for some time that we can't have this many pro / semi pro teams across multiple levels of rugby.
As Gifford wrote in 2009
Since when have rugby provinces in this country ever put the nation first, the province second?
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/opinion/3155247/NZRU-out-of-touch
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@kev said in NZR review:
The Silver Lake deal was a mistake - made lesser by the intervention of the players association. It may develop into something over time but no news todate? But it seems like Rob Nichols has let power go to his head. The threats are poor form. Talk about a swinging dick?
The trouble with the professional era is greed. Everyone thinks the game can grow forever, that players are entitled to massive contracts from billionaire owners and corporates…so we have to screw over provincial rugby.
Agree on going to his head. It's like a Union boss who thinks he should be the overall boss who has unlimited powers to call the shots. As Mr infallible.
Regarding the Silver Lake deal. Didn't Nichols and his association support the final deal? If so, so much for their decision-making skills. If it is a bad deal he was wrong then (to support it) and may be wrong again.
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@gt12 said in NZR review:
I find it strange that a request for an independent board in line with the Pilkington report is being selfish.
It's the PUs who want to maintain their power here.
Isn't it only 3 seats?
NZR is still doing OK. Not great but OK. And with super rugby this year its heading in the right direction
My concern is the belief that an independent Board will somehow lead to the promised land. It might in fact make things worse without some (3 out of 9) grounded Provincial rugby input.
And why should the PU's give it all up? It's them who have got us to where we are today. Not great but not terrible either.
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@Winger said in NZR review:
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
A professional proposal
They haven't finished writing it yet. Very professional.
Ops. I was referring to Pilkington. I don't know about the PU proposal (I haven't seen it). I was just comparing the 2 that have been published
Pilkington seems VG to me. Esp compared to NZR
You seem a bit confused
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@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
A professional proposal
They haven't finished writing it yet. Very professional.
Ops. I was referring to Pilkington. I don't know about the PU proposal (I haven't seen it). I was just comparing the 2 that have been published
Pilkington seems VG to me. Esp compared to NZR
You seem a bit confused
Why? (the comment you referenced was 19 days back)
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@Winger said in NZR review:
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
A professional proposal
They haven't finished writing it yet. Very professional.
Ops. I was referring to Pilkington. I don't know about the PU proposal (I haven't seen it). I was just comparing the 2 that have been published
Pilkington seems VG to me. Esp compared to NZR
You seem a bit confused
Why? (the comment you referenced was 19 days back)
Nothing has changed about the proposals in 19 days
You support and oppose one proposal. You support and haven't read the other
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@Winger said in NZR review:
And why should the PU's give it all up?
Because they organised an expert independent review whose findings clearly outline the changes that are needed and why.
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@KiwiMurph said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
And why should the PU's give it all up?
Because they organised an expert independent review whose findings clearly outline the changes that are needed and why.
Are they (the experts) right though? Honest question - I think a lot of people have seen well meaning but fundamentally wrong reviews come back. I have some sympathy for the PU - it's their game after all, but they have made a right mess of it recently.
NZR governance has also been utterly woeful over the last few years.
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@KiwiMurph said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
And why should the PU's give it all up?
Because they organised an expert independent review whose findings clearly outline the changes that are needed and why.
Everyone agreed that there would be a review and it's recommendation would be voted on
The review came back and all stakeholders said they agreed with the findings
Then there was 6 months of silence, then there was counter recommendations floated. Everything since the review has been about sabotaging the process. I would have more time for the PU's if they promptly voted it down in 2023
The fact this wasn't voted on last year is proof that the admin of the game in NZ is incompetent and self serving
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@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
A professional proposal
They haven't finished writing it yet. Very professional.
Ops. I was referring to Pilkington. I don't know about the PU proposal (I haven't seen it). I was just comparing the 2 that have been published
Pilkington seems VG to me. Esp compared to NZR
You seem a bit confused
Why? (the comment you referenced was 19 days back)
Nothing has changed about the proposals in 19 days
You support and oppose one proposal. You support and haven't read the other
But I'm referring to the process of the people making this decision. I might agree with Rob. But I'm not and he's not some God like infallible superman.
Let the vote take place. And trust the process and see it out. Without these childish threats. And accept that sometimes you win. And sometimes not. And sometimes you get only a % of what you won't. That's life.
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@Duluth said in NZR review:
@KiwiMurph said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
And why should the PU's give it all up?
Because they organised an expert independent review whose findings clearly outline the changes that are needed and why.
Everyone agreed that there would be a review and it's recommendation would be voted on
The review came back and all stakeholders said they agreed with the findings
Then there was 6 months of silence, then there was counter recommendations floated. Everything since the review has been about sabotaging the process. I would have more time for the PU's if they promptly voted it down in 2023
The fact this wasn't voted on last year is proof that the admin of the game in NZ is incompetent and self serving
Good summary
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More of an aside on Phil Gifford's historical "Since when have rugby provinces in this country ever put the nation first, the province second?"
To give some due, provincial unions and their constituencies at least show an interest and support the game well below Super Rugby level. I might not hold my breath on seeing that locally from the Chiefs, NZRU, let alone any pro Players Association.
I know that's not always where their immediate priorities are, nor need to be in some cases. But the conveyor belt to "the nation" and the All Blacks doesn't begin halfway along at some Academy either.
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Fight, fight, fight, fight....
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@Duluth said in NZR review:
@KiwiMurph said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
And why should the PU's give it all up?
Because they organised an expert independent review whose findings clearly outline the changes that are needed and why.
Everyone agreed that there would be a review and it's recommendation would be voted on
The review came back and all stakeholders said they agreed with the findings
Then there was 6 months of silence, then there was counter recommendations floated. Everything since the review has been about sabotaging the process. I would have more time for the PU's if they promptly voted it down in 2023
The fact this wasn't voted on last year is proof that the admin of the game in NZ is incompetent and self serving
Can't say I agree, thestakeholder said they agreed in princale to the report, but they had to take it back to their stakeholders too, the clubs etc. It's how PUs work. I don't see it as incompetent or self serving, just the PUs wanting a say in how game is run. I think you will find the board in general is all for the changes, it won't see much change in board members, just the PU members, rest will hold ther positions in all honesty.
I genuinely thank NZR do alright in running the game here anyway, as with all boards follower's of the game are generally seeing the game not being run as they would like, it's a fact of life with anything. -
@Machpants said in NZR review:
Fight, fight, fight, fight....
Well it's easy to see what is happening, Nicholls is saying either our way or we will wreak havoc in the game. I not sure if threats they making is from an organisation that should have the only say in how game is run?
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https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350286296/new-zealand-rugby-says-nzrpa-threat-wont-impact-all-blacks
New Zealand Rugby has attempted to play down the prospect of disruption to the All Blacks’ season following an extraordinary letter from the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association (NZRPA) that has threatened to split the game in two.
The NZRPA letter - signed by David Kirk, Richie McCaw, Tammi Wilson Uluinayau, Sam Cane, Scott Curry, Les Elder, Sarah Hirini, Ruby Tui, Patrick Tuipulotu, Samuel Whitelock, Will Jordan, Scott Ireland and Rob Nichol - said that professional players would simply refuse to recognise NZ Rugby’s right to govern the game if its preferred proposal is blocked.
However, the split in game throughout the country has been highlighted by Taranaki supporting the NZRPA-backed proposal, and sharply criticising the alternative put forward by a group of provincial unions including Wellington.
In an email to TRFU stakeholders, chair Dan Radcliffe wrote: “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.
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I imagine that Wellington RFU are particularly opposed to ceding any power, as they consistently spend way beyond their means on their NPC team.
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@Tim said in NZR review:
professional players would simply refuse to recognise NZ Rugby’s right to govern the game if its preferred proposal is blocked
so now we have sovereign rugby players? this is getting out of hand
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@Tim said in NZR review:
I imagine that Wellington RFU are particularly opposed to ceding any power, as they consistently spend way beyond their means on their NPC team.
lol then that's been money well spent hasn't it?
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@Tim said in NZR review:
I imagine that Wellington RFU are particularly opposed to ceding any power, as they consistently spend way beyond their means on their NPC team.
That's what I found hilarious. WRFU stomping up and down, despite being one of the worst PUs in terms of financial failure.
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@mariner4life I hear the new franchise "The Sheriffs" has already been registered!
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@Dan54 said in NZR review:
Well it's easy to see what is happening, Nicholls is saying either our way or we will wreak havoc in the game. I not sure if threats they making is from an organisation that should have the only say in how game is run?
Both Dame Patsy and RN have both behaved like entitled children. Whereas the PU are looking OK based on media reporting. RN especially comes across very poorly.
Poole described the Players' Association's threat to split with NZR if governance reforms don't go ahead as needless and unhelpful.
"Irresponsible is a word that comes to mind. Unnecessary is another one. It smacks of 'if I don't get my own way I'm going to take my toys, my bat and my ball and go somewhere else'. It's an unnecessary reaction and in our view an overaction."
The New Zealand Rugby board, led by chair Dame Patsy Reddy, are committed to proposal one, with Reddy earlier saying she would resign if the plan wasn't accepted at the SGM.
While not certain, Poole believes the PUs' proposal will prove more popular at next week's SGM.
and this
However, Wellington Rugby chair Russell Poole said claims that the PUs' proposal doesn't align with the principles of the independent report weren't true.
"We have openly taken on board the ideal of an independently selected, appointed board. So anything that says something else is absolutely untrue and that's the worst part of the NZRPA document yesterday, it has so many lies in it, so many things that are factually incorrect.
"There is no difference between proposal one and proposal two on how people are elected and the process that they go through.
"The difference is that in proposal two, the provincial unions have a line in there that says that three members on the NZR board at any given time must have spent some time on a provincial rugby board. Given the fact that one of the roles of that NZR board is to look after the game on behalf of the 150,000 participants, and that's just the players, not the infrastructure and other people that go around that, I don't think that's unfair."
Nichol and the NZRPA believe the game in this country is struggling and he told RNZ the provincial unions' proposal was unacceptable.
"We all accepted the report, we all accepted the findings that the governance model was not fit for purpose. To get to this stage and then turn around and say 'no we just want to keep the status quo', we can't afford to do that.
"The game's in trouble, it needs support, it needs help, it needs expertise and we need an independent board."
Poole said the PUs had tried to speak with the NZRPA about their concerns.
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@Paekakboyz Don't forget the "Posse", and the "Freemen on the land".
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@Winger said in NZR review:
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
@Duluth said in NZR review:
@Winger said in NZR review:
A professional proposal
They haven't finished writing it yet. Very professional.
Ops. I was referring to Pilkington. I don't know about the PU proposal (I haven't seen it). I was just comparing the 2 that have been published
Pilkington seems VG to me. Esp compared to NZR
You seem a bit confused
Why? (the comment you referenced was 19 days back)
Nothing has changed about the proposals in 19 days
You support and oppose one proposal. You support and haven't read the other
But I'm referring to the process of the people making this decision. I might agree with Rob. But I'm not and he's not some God like infallible superman.
Let the vote take place. And trust the process and see it out. Without these childish threats. And accept that sometimes you win. And sometimes not. And sometimes you get only a % of what you won't. That's life.
Better summary
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Unless I'm mistaken, the NZRPA represents professional players on NZ, Super, Provincial, and U20s contracts.
The most recent available agreement is here.
I'd be interested in a lawyer's interpretation of the NZRPA's position as I can't see how it aligns with the text of the contract.
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More of that Taranaki letter
..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, 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.
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If you look at the NZRPA board the one independent is an ex-Black Fern so they aren't exactly doing what they preach. Rob Nichol is a former police officer and accountant. The last thing we need is a NZR board full of the latter.
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@Bovidae said in NZR review:
The last thing we need is a NZR board full of the latter
oi!
nah, wait, fair
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