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Associated Press
a day ago
- Business
- Associated Press
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson to step down at year's end
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:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson to step down at year's end
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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:
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kiss to lead combined Australia-NZ team against Lions
Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss will lead a combined Australia and New Zealand side that will play the British and Irish Lions this summer. It will be the first combined Australia and New Zealand team since 1989 and they will play a Lions side who start a three-Test series against Australia on Saturday, 19 July in Brisbane. Kiss, who will take over from Joe Schmidt as Australia coach in 2026, will have former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster as an assistant for the game in Adelaide on Saturday, 12 July. "It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV," said Kiss, currently Queensland Reds head coach. "The British and Irish Lions are one of world sport's most renowned teams and to be able to play them at an iconic Australian venue such as the Adelaide Oval will be an incredible spectacle. "I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game and linking up with the wider management in due course." World Cup-winning former Australia international and ex-Tonga coach Toutai Kefu will lead a First Nations and Pasifika XV that will play the Lions on Tuesday, 22 July in between the first and second Tests against Australia. "I feel honoured to be named head coach of the first ever First Nations and Pasifika XV," said Kefu. "First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world and the significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British and Irish Lions." Kiss to replace Schmidt as Australia head coach in 2026 12 from Leinster, two from Wales - the Lions squad in numbers Lions call-up 'bizarre' after Doris injury - Gibson-Park Friday, 20 June - Lions v Argentina, Dublin (Aviva Stadium) Saturday, 28 June - Lions v Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium) Wednesday, 2 July - Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium) Saturday, 5 July - Lions v NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium) Wednesday, 9 July - Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium) Saturday, 12 July - Lions v Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) Saturday, 19 July - Lions v Australia, first Test, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium) Tuesday, 22 July - Lions v First Nations & Pasifika XV, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) Saturday, 26 July - Lions v Australia, second Test, Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground/MCG) Saturday, 2 August - Lions v Australia, third Test, Sydney (Accor Stadium) All matches kick off at 11:00 BST apart from the game in Dublin which starts at 20:00 BST Listen: Sport's Strangest Crimes - Bloodgate Listen to the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Kiss to lead combined Australia-NZ team against Lions
Les Kiss will be the head coach of a combined Australia and New Zealand side that will play the British and Irish Lions this who will take over from Joe Schmidt as Australia coach in 2026, will have former All Blacks head coach Ian Foster as an assistant for the game in Adelaide on Saturday, 12 will be the first combined Australia and New Zealand team since 1989 and they will play a Lions side who start a three-Test series against Australia on Saturday, 19 July in Brisbane."It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV," said Kiss, currently Queensland Reds head coach."The British and Irish Lions are one of world sport's most renowned teams and to be able to play them at an iconic Australian venue such as the Adelaide Oval will be an incredible spectacle."I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game and linking up with the wider management in due course."World Cup-winning former Australia international and ex-Tonga coach Toutai Kefu will lead a First Nations and Pasifika XV that will play the Lions on Tuesday, 22 July in between the first and second Tests against Australia. "I feel honoured to be named head coach of the first ever First Nations and Pasifika XV," said Kefu."First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world and the significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British and Irish Lions." What are the British and Irish Lions fixtures? Friday, 20 June - Lions v Argentina, Dublin (Aviva Stadium)Saturday, 28 June - Lions v Western Force, Perth (Optus Stadium)Wednesday, 2 July - Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)Saturday, 5 July - Lions v NSW Waratahs, Sydney (Allianz Stadium)Wednesday, 9 July - Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra (GIO Stadium)Saturday, 12 July - Lions v Invitational AU & NZ, Adelaide (Adelaide Oval)Saturday, 19 July - Lions v Australia, first Test, Brisbane (Suncorp Stadium)Tuesday, 22 July - Lions v First Nations & Pasifika XV, Melbourne (Marvel Stadium)Saturday, 26 July - Lions v Australia, second Test, Melbourne (Melbourne Cricket Ground/MCG)Saturday, 2 August - Lions v Australia, third Test, Sydney (Accor Stadium)All matches kick off at 11:00 BST apart from the game in Dublin which starts at 20:00 BST
The Guardian
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Incoming Australia coach Les Kiss to take charge of Lions tour invitational team
Incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss will get an early taste of international rugby when he oversees the AUNZ Invitational XV against the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide. Queensland Reds mentor Kiss will team up with former All Blacks coach Ian Foster, who was already announced as an assistant for the July fixture, the first time since 1989 that Australia and New Zealand have combined on the field. That match was won 19-15 by the touring Lions, however only two of the seven Kiwi players originally named in the squad decided to play. There are hopes that Japan-based stars like Michael Hooper, Aaron Smith and Richie Mo'unga could be attracted to participate this time around. Kiss, who will replace current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt next year, was looking forward to guiding the trans-Tasman selection, with the match a week before the first Test in Brisbane on 19 July. 'It's a privilege to be able to lead the coaching group for the combined AUNZ Invitational XV,' he said in a statement. 'I'm looking forward to working with a coach like Ian, who has wide-ranging experience at the highest level of the game.' Rugby Australia also announced that former Wallabies No 8 Toutai Kefu would coach the First Nations and Pasifika XV, who will play the Lions at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on 22 July. Currently coaching in Japan, Kefu was part of the victorious Wallabies squad in the 2001 Lions series and was previously head coach of Tonga for seven years. 'First Nations and Pasifika people contribute massively to the game all around the world and the significance of this game in celebrating those ongoing contributions can't be overstated, especially against a team with the history of the British and Irish Lions,' Kefu said in the statement. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion 'I'm looking forward to getting together as a group in July and representing our people with a strong performance.'
