Peters takes over in NZRL hotseat
Greg Peters has been named as the new CEO of New Zealand Rugby League.
The NZRL announced yesterday that the former Hurricanes and Sanzaar boss would take charge following the resignation of Alex Hayton in March.
NZRL deputy chair Hugh Martyn was acting CEO after Hayton but Peters steps into the hot seat with 20 years of experience as a sports administrator in New Zealand and Argentina, as well as his stint as Sanzaar CEO from 2010-15.
Peters’ appointment follows the Castle review that was conducted after the Kiwis’ disastrous World Cup campaign last year, which ended in a shock 4-2 quarterfinal loss to Fiji in Wellington after losing 32-22 to Tonga in Hamilton in the tournament’s pool stages.
The review identified ‘‘a need for knowledge, expertise, understanding, leadership and capability at the high performance sport level and at the CEO position,’’ the NZRL said in a statement.
Michael Maguire, who led South Sydney to the NRL premiership in 2014, was appointed as the new Kiwis coach earlier this month after the NZRL didn’t offer previous coach David Kidwell a new contract.
NZRL chairman Reon Edwards said Peters had the experience to lead rugby league in New Zealand into a new era.
‘‘Greg’s CV speaks for itself. He is a proven CEO with plenty of experience at provincial and international level.’’ Peters was recruited after the NZRL board brought in assistance from Global Elite Sports, a company which specialises in identifying talent in sport.
His last role was working as a media consultant for Forefront Sports group, a sports marketing agency based in Dallas, after being general manager for the Argentina Rugby Union from 2015-16.
Peters was previously CEO of Sanzaar (2010-15), the Hurricanes and Wellington Rugby (2006-2010) and the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union (1997-98), as well as having various roles with New Zealand Rugby from 1998-2006.