The NZRU Board is charged with setting strategy, direction and policy for the NZRU, and is ultimately responsible for the decisions and actions of NZRU management and staff. Many of the decisions concerning New Zealand’s national teams, domestic competitions, financial management and rugby traditions can only be made by a vote of the NZRU Board

The Board is comprised of nine Board Members: six zone representatives, one Maori representative and two independent Board Members.

New Zealand’s 26 Provincial Unions are divided into three zones – North, Central and South – and two representatives from each zone are elected to the Board. These zone representatives are nominated by a Provincial Union within their zone, go through an interview process with a sub-committee of the NZRU Board, and are elected by a vote of all 26 Unions at the Annual General Meeting.

The Maori representative may be nominated by any Provincial Union and is elected by a vote of all the Unions at the Annual General Meeting. The Maori representative is automatically appointed as NZRU representative on and Chairman of the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board.

The two independent Board Members must be independent of any Provincial Union and are not nominated for the role. Instead, independent Board Members must apply for the position and are selected on the basis of their professional qualifications and experience by a committee of the NZRU Board.

Currently, the Chairman of the NZRU Board is Mike Eagle, who was elected as a representative of the Southern Zone.

The NZRU President, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer may attend Board meetings but are not Board Members and cannot vote on Board matters.

Click here for profiles of the NZRU Board.

Bryan Williams –President

Bryan Williams played 113 games for the All Blacks between 1970 and 1978, including 38 Tests, and had a lengthy playing career for Auckland. He served as coach of club, provincial and franchise sides from the 1980s, and as national coach for Manu Samoa from 1996-1999. A Life Member, coach and former President of the Ponsonby RFC, Bryan was made an MBE for services to rugby and the community. He was elected President in 2011.

Ian MacRae –Vice President

Ian MacRae played 45 games for the All Blacks between 1963 and 1970. His appearances include 17 Tests, three games as captain and several appearances on the 1970 tour of South Africa alongside President Bryan Williams. Ian played for West Coast and Bay of Plenty as well as Hawke’s Bay, for whom he had a long career. He continued to serve the game as a coach and administrator at for Hawke’s Bay and for Napier Old Boys Marist. He was elected Vice President in 2011.

Mike Eagle –Chairman

Mike Eagle has had a long rugby career in Canterbury as a player and administrator. He was previously Chairman of the Canterbury RFU and Crusaders Board. He played for Albion RFC and represented Canterbury B. A partner and director of an electrical contracting company, he lives in Christchurch.

Graham Cooney - Southern Representative

Graham Cooney has been Chairman of Rugby Southland since 2008 and a director since 1998 and previously served as a director and deputy chairman of the Highlanders. He is also a founding director and Chairman of Blue Sky Meats Ltd and Chairman of the Southern Institute of Technology. He lives in Invercargill. Graham Cooney was appointed to the NZRU Board in April 2010.

Bob Field – Independent Director

Bob Field joined the NZRU Board in 2011. He is currently the Chairman of Toyota New Zealand, CMD Nominees Ltd and the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development. He is also a director of KiwiRail, adviser to Team New Zealand and a member of the New Zealand Business Roundtable. He made age-grade representative teams in South Canterbury and Canterbury and played for New Zealand Universities in 1967.

Ivan Haines – Northern Representative

Ivan Haines is former Chairman of the King Country RFU and Chairman of the Chiefs Board. He is also Chairman of Waitomo Energy Service Customer Trust and has several successful businesses covering tourism, construction and catering. Ivan is also a long-time member of the Waitete Rugby Club. He lives in Cambridge.

Graham Mourie – Central Representative

Graham Mourie has had a long rugby career. He played 61 games for the All Blacks, captaining the team from 1976–1982. Graham coached Wellington in 1998–1999 and was Hurricanes coach from 2000–2002. He has farming interests in both the Taranaki and Wellington regions and is a long-time member of the Coastal Rugby Club. He lives in Porirua.

Wayne Peters – Maori Representative

Wayne Peters joined the NZRU Board in 2009. He was the Chairman of the Northland Union from 2006 to 2008, and served as a director of the Blues Franchise over the same period. Wayne played rugby for Otago, Northland, New Zealand Universities and the New Zealand Juniors. Principal of Wayne W Peters & Associates, Wayne also holds a number of directorships.

Gerard van Tilborg - Northern Representative

Gerard van Tilborg was elected to the New Zealand Rugby Union Board in 2008. A former North Harbour RFU Chairman and a Blues Director, he has a background in banking and business management. He is CEO of Easy Factors International and owns a building company. He also has a number of company directorships.