The NZRU’s day-to-day business is carried out by around 80 staff, most of whom are based at the headquarters in Wellington.
The NZRU is headed by a CEO, who is supported by an Executive Team and Management Teams. The CEO is ultimately responsible for ensuring that the NZRU strategy is implemented and that the organisation achieves its objectives. The CEO works closely with the NZRU Board and provides a link between staff and the Board.
The NZRU has six teams: Provincial Union and Community Rugby; All Blacks; Professional Rugby; Corporate Services; Public Affairs; and Commercial.
The Executive Team is made up of the General Managers for Professional Rugby, Public Affairs and Corporate Services, along with the CEO. The General Management team includes the General Manager for Community and Provincial Union Rugby, as well as the All Blacks Manager, the Business Development Manager and the General Counsel and Financial Controller.
Provincial Union and Community Rugby
This team provides support to New Zealand’s biggest team – the players, coaches, referees and volunteers in New Zealand’s clubs and schools. That support includes funding, coaching programmes like RugbySmart and educational resources. This team also supports the Provincial Unions and Maori Rugby and manages the Rugby Database, a collection of information about everyone involved in rugby in New Zealand. The Community Rugby Plan 2008-2011 outlines key strategies and specific initiatives in each of the priority areas and provides a framework for the team’s activities.
All Blacks
The All Blacks are the number one ranked team in world rugby. Behind the players and coaches is a world-class team, including a Media Manager, specialist coaches, an Equipment Manager and medical team.
Professional Rugby
Professional Rugby is one of the biggest teams in the NZRU and focuses on three core areas: High Performance, Rugby Operations and Professional Rugby Relationships. Within each of these teams are people who support and work with New Zealand’s High Performance Players, Coaches and Referees, as well as the National Teams. This team also includes Rugby Operations, who are responsible for the delivery of high-quality competitions and Test matches, and Sports Science.
Corporate Services
This team delivers support functions across the organisation, including IT, Board Support, HR, Office Management and Finance. NZRU events like Test match hosting, All Blacks Capping and the Steinlager Rugby Awards are managed by the Events team, which also sits within Corporate Services. The Legal team manages salary and produces regulations for players and competitions alongside traditional legal functions.
Public Affairs
The Public Affairs team encompasses management of the NZRU’s communications, government relations, media management, publishing and online and social media activity. Public Affairs works with the NZRU’s Charity Partners KidsCan and Plunket as well as the New Zealand Rugby Museum and maintains the NZRU’s history and records.
Commercial
The NZRU’s Commercial team manages relationships with our partners and sponsors, ensures the effective delivery of Commercial Operations, markets and promotes our competitions, teams and Community Rugby and works closely with broadcasters in New Zealand and around the world. Key focuses for Commercial include business development, attracting new sponsors and growing sustainable revenue. Commercial also oversees licensing of All Blacks and Small Blacks products, memorabilia and player promotions.