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With a new governance structure for New Zealand Rugby failing to gain approval at a special general meeting in Wellington on Thursday, the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA) has announced its intention to establish a separate body to run the professional game.

The proposal for a wholesale reform of the game, which would have included a fully independent board, backed by the NZRPA and the NZ Māori Rugby Board, received only 31 votes in favour while 59 were opposed.

Instead, Proposal 2, a Provincial Union Governance model which secures three places on the nine-member board for people with previous provincial board experience, was passed.

The SGM was prompted by last year’s Pilkington Review, which indicated New Zealand Rugby’s organisational structure and constitution was “not fit for purpose in the modern era”.

Earlier this month the NZRPA in a letter to the provincial unions said "the professional players do not want to see a divided and further complicated governance system but will not under any circumstances be governed under Proposal 2 or the status quo."

The statement also said the adoption of Proposal 2 would result in the NZRPA being forced to establish a new governance arrangement for professional rugby in New Zealand.

Outlining a split between the professional game and the community game, the statement, signed by a group of leading players and former All Blacks captains David Kirk and Richie McCaw, advised “the ‘Professional Rugby Tribunal', will govern, in some sort of partnership with NZRU, the sale of media rights, the contracting of sponsors, the revenue share model, international and national competitions, the high-performance programmes and development pathways and any other activity that impacts the careers, safety, remuneration, workplace and development of professional players.

"NZRU will continue to govern alone the community and amateur game including provincial rugby, club rugby and other non-professional rugby activities.”

Speaking after the vote, NZRPA Chief Executive, Rob Nichol told AFP "it was a great opportunity for the game to make the changes required.

"It's incredibly unfortunate we haven't taken that opportunity,"

Going on to advise that players would now forge ahead with the plan for a new body, Nichol told RNZ “we now need expertise and focus on the professional game but what we are not prepared to do is to allow New Zealand Rugby to go off and do that themselves.”

Nichol said players would still be contracted with New Zealand Rugby to drive the professional game.

Rowena Duncum, speaking for the unions, said their vote for Proposal 2 would protect the interests of amateur rugby players across New Zealand.

In a statement, Duncum explained “the heart of the game remains anchored in the people who play it.

"The sun will rise on the games this weekend, as it always has," she added.

"150,000 people will be out on the playing fields, and the provincial unions will continue their work, unchanged."

The New Zealand Herald has referred to the dispute as "civil war".

Image credit: Shutterstock.

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