New Zealand Rugby Union



The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) (formerly the New Zealand Rugby Football Union) is the governing body of rugby union in New Zealand, it was founded in 1892, 12 years after the first Provincial Unions in New Zealand, and in 1949, became an affiliate to the International Rugby Board, the governing body of Rugby Union for the world. The Union's main objectives, as displayed in the NZRU Constitution is to, promote and develop rugby throughout New Zealand; arrange and participate in international, trial and other rugby matches and tours in New Zealand and Overseas; represent New Zealand on the Board; form and manage NZ representative teams; and encourage participation in, and support for, rugby players and supporters at all levels of the game. NZRU Headquarters are located in Wellington, New Zealand.

There are currently 11 NZRU Board Members, President, John Sturgeon, was elected in 2009, who received the position from Leslie in 2009. Steve Tew is the current Chief Executive and Wilson Whineray is the current Patron.

The NZRU currently have eight representative teams, while the Maori rugby union team was postponed for the [|2009|Pacific Nations Cup], replaced by the [|Junior|All Blacks], with NZRU Chief Executive [Tew] stating "while the long-term view was that the New Zealand Maori team was the best fit for the [|Pacific|Nations Cup], the development of the top level of players as a pathway to the All Blacks was a more urgent priority in 2009".