Ex-All Black: ‘Rome is burning’ after controversial vote threatens split in New Zealand Rugby

The New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) have refused to back down despite seeing the controversial Proposal 2 adopted by the governing body.

A vote was held at a special general meeting on Thursday to determine what motion would be passed and it was the counter-offer, backed by a bunch of provincial unions, which got the green light.

The NZRPA sent a letter last week threatening to break away from New Zealand Rugby (NZR) if the watered-down proposal was voted through.

However, with that now being passed, it means that three of the nine NZR board members have to have served on provincial boards in the past.

Scathing review

That is in contrast to Proposal 1, backed by All Blacks players past and present, which sought to implement the recommendations from a scathing independent review.

Known as the Pilkington Report, it said NZR was “not fit for purpose” and that all nine members of the board should be independently appointed.

Former All Black Arran Pene, who is on the NZ Māori Rugby board, described it as “a kick in the rear end” after Proposal 2 was voted through.

“We all love this game but, to a certain extent, Rome is burning, so we need to get on with things,” Pene added.

“We’ve had these battles before when the game went professional in 1995 and have been through a number of events.”

Meanwhile, chief executive of the NZRPA, Rob Nichol, insists that they will go through with their threat and split from the governing body.

“We want to put something together where we come together to make sure we make really good decisions for pro rugby,” he said.

“What we won’t do is trust New Zealand Rugby under this government structure to go off and make those decisions by themselves.”

New Zealand’s ‘civil war’ in full swing as proposal backed by Richie McCaw and Sam Cane rejected

Nichol also reiterated the phrase that he used last week after insisting that the “status quo” has remained following Thursday’s vote.

“The expert panel laid out what we needed to do perfectly in their recommendations,” he said.

“Those recommendations got support from NZR, NZRC, Maori Rugby board, Super Rugby clubs, NZRPA and a good group of PUs.

“It was a great opportunity for the game to make the changes required.

“It’s incredibly unfortunate we haven’t taken that opportunity and ended up with what the expert labelled status quo or worse.”

View of a current player

Blues captain and current All Black Patrick Tuipulotu was asked for his initial reaction to the news and admitted: “I’m a bit disappointed.

He added: “But it’s for the future of rugby, whatever we decide, we have to do it together.

“From here on out, the conversation has to be open. Although Proposal 1 didn’t go through, we have to work together to try and get to where we want to.”

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