Our Board is charged with setting strategy, direction and policy for New Zealand Rugby (NZR).
Our Board is charged with setting strategy, direction and policy for New Zealand Rugby (NZR).
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 Board.
The Board is selected by the NZR Appointments and Remuneration Panel and then ratified by NZR's voting members, the 26 Provincial Unions and the New Zealand Māori Rugby Board. Selections must be in accordance with constitutional requirements relating to rugby knowledge and experience, Māori whakapapa and knowledge, Pasifika connections and experience, and gender diversity, and the Panel will use a Skills and Competencies Framework agreed by the Board and the Stakeholder Panel.
All Board Members must resign from, and be independent of, major rugby-related offices.
People and Culture Committee
Risk, Investment and Audit Committee
David Kirk brings a wealth of experience from his extensive career across roles in governance, business, and rugby. David is the Chair and co-founder of Bailador Technology Investments, overseeing investments in high-growth information technology companies. He also serves as Chair of listed company KMD Brands, where he has guided the company’s transformation into a multi-brand outdoor apparel group and supported its achievement of B-Corp certification. David also holds leadership roles as Chair of Forsyth Barr and has previously served as Chair of Trade Me and The Hoyts Group.
Risk, Investment and Audit Committee
Greg Barclay is a lawyer and governance professional with extensive experience across commercial, legal, and sports sectors. A founding partner of Claymore Partners, a specialist commercial advisory firm, Greg has built a career combining strategic leadership and business acumen. He currently serves as Chair of several organisations, including Smartpay, Pacific Forest Products, and Boffa Miskell, where he has driven growth, innovation, and operational excellence.
Risk, Investment and Audit Committee - Chair
Grant Jarrold is an experienced business professional and governance leader with a long track record in rugby administration and financial management. He has been a leading figure in New Zealand rugby, serving as Chair of the Crusaders since 2014 and as a board member of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU) for 18 years. Grant was also the CRFU chair in 2014.
Risk, Investment and Audit Committee
Doug Jones (Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Kahungunu) has extensive governance and executive experience, a deep understanding of Te Ao Māori, and a passion for rugby and community development. Doug is currently Chief Executive of Trust Tairāwhiti, where he leads regional economic development and tourism, and oversees major assets such as Eastland Generation, Eastland Port and Gisborne Airport. In this role, he has refreshed the organisation’s strategic direction and driven cultural and operational transformation.
People and Culture Committee
Keven Mealamu is a respected business leader, community advocate, and former professional rugby player with experience in governance and stakeholder engagement. Since retiring from a 15-year professional rugby career in 2015, Keven has focused on fostering community well-being, business innovation, and sports governance.
People and Culture Committee - Chair
Julia Raue is a professional independent director with extensive governance experience across a range of industries, including technology, retail, energy, health, logistics, and media. She has held governance roles with some of New Zealand's leading organisations and is known for her expertise in strategic change, business transformation, and fostering high-performance cultures.
People and Culture Committee
Caren Rangi is an experienced governance professional with a passion for community focused leadership. Caren is New Zealand-born Cook Islands Māori and has built her governance career across public, private, and not-for-profit sectors.
Risk, Investment and Audit Committee
Catherine Savage is an experienced business executive and governance leader and an incumbent member of the New Zealand Rugby Board. With over 30 years of experience in funds management, private equity, and governance roles, Catherine is committed to fostering strong leadership and sustainable growth across the organisations she serves.
NZR has two Officers: The President and Vice President, who represent NZR and New Zealand at important functions and events, locally and globally. The President and Vice President (along with the Chief Executive Officer) attend New Zealand Rugby Board Meetings, although they are not considered Board Members and may not vote on Board matters.
These positions are elected for two year terms. In 2024, Matthew Cooper became President while Erin Rush was elected Vice President.
Matthew has been Chief Executive of Sport Waikato since 2001, where he has led the organisation’s key strategic projects focused on increasing participation in play, active recreation and sport. He is a current Trustee with the Halberg Foundation and also a graduate of the University of Waikato. A former All Black, he played 26 matches between 1987 and 1996. He is probably best known for holding the record for highest points scorer for the Waikato Rugby Union. He also played 63 games for Hawkes Bay from 1985 to 1989.
A former player, Erin Rush represented Wellington FC and was a long-standing captain of the Wellington Pride before making her Black Ferns debut in 2003. Erin has continued to contribute to rugby after her playing days, she was appointed the first female president of Centurions Rugby Club and was the first female Citing Commissioner for New Zealand Rugby. Outside of rugby, Erin is a leading real estate agent for Harcourts, the top salesperson in Wellington City since 2016.
The New Zealand Rugby Patron fills an honorary role as the figurehead for the organisation. Throughout the 20th Century the Governor General traditionally held the role of Patron.
Former All Blacks Captain Sir Brian Lochore was Patron until his passing in August 2019, and Ian Kirkpatrick, was elected as his successor at the NZR Annual General Meeting in 2020. Kirkpatrick was an All Black (# 666) from 1967 to 1977, playing in 38 Test Matches, including nine as Captain between 1972 and 1974. He was made a Member of the British Empire for services to rugby in 1980 and inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2003. He is also Patron of his local rugby club in Poverty Bay and remains an active supporter of club and representative rugby.