WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson will step down at the end of the year, creating a vacancy in one of the most powerful jobs in New Zealand sport.
Robinson led New Zealand’s national sport for six years, through the difficult period of the pandemic when matches often took place in empty stadiums.
He also has guided the sport's national governing body through difficult financial times. New Zealand Rugby has reported substantial deficits in each of the last three years. Along with many national rugby unions, New Zealand has faced increasing costs in retaining top players.
The almost 20 million New Zealand dollar deficit ($10.2 million) posted by NZR in the last financial year came despite record revenues, reflecting the increasing difficulty national rugy administrators face in making ends meet.
Robinson oversaw the deal in which investment company Silver Lake paid more than 200 million dollars ($120 million) for a share of NZR’s commercial revenues. The deal at first was opposed by the professional players’ union but later allowed NZR to financially support provincial rugby unions after the pandemic.
Robinson also was party to the decision to appoint Scott Robertson as All Blacks head coach months before Ian Foster's tenure finished. Foster led the All Blacks to the final of the 2023 World Cup in which they lost by one point to South Africa.
Robinson on Monday said he's leaving to join his wife and family who have relocated to Australia.
"The past six years have been a period of rapid change or unprecedented challenges through the pandemic and significant evolution across commercial, competitions and structures,” Robinson said in a statement.
“I will reflect on that as I get closer to stepping away but I firmly believe the foundations of our organization are extremely strong and the game is well-placed for the future.”
Robinson succeeded Steve Tew as chief executive in 2019. He will leave prior to a reorganization which will see the incoming chief executive take charge of both New Zealand Rugby and New Zealand Rugby Commercial, the sporting and commercial parts of the game.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
FILE - New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Mark Robinson smiles on Manly Beach in Sydney, Friday, Nov. 13, 2020. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
