Reason’s view

Mark Reason’s World Rugby nominee’s ‘conflict of interests’ (April 22) was outstanding .

How can New Zealand Rugby appoint an individual firstly as a director of New Zealand Rugby then nominate him for the new executive committee of World Rugby when that person, Bart Campbell, is a former chairman of leading Australian NRL team the Melbourne Storm and still a substantial shareholder in them?

This is a massive conflict of interest. Shame on the chairman of NZR, Brent Impey, and his board for allowing this most serious conflict to happen.

J H R Walker, Heretaunga

Mark Reason’s criticism of New Zealand Rugby’s nomination of Bart Campbell is misplaced and demonstrates a lack of understanding as to how governance works.

Bart brings a unique set of skills as a former chair of a successful professional sports organisation (including Melbourne Storm and Sunshine Coast Lightning), operating a player agent business, and promoter of many successful rugby events for NZR, including the tests in Chicago, the Barbarians match at Twickenham and the 2018 test in Japan. He and NZR disclosed his business interests to World Rugby in an open manner.

The NZR board considered the skills gaps we identified at World Rugby. There are enough rugby administrators or former test players.

We believe World Rugby requires major change. The failure of the Nations Championship proposal, the lack of progress developing what are known as Tier 2 countries, the self-protection of certain Six Nations countries and the lack of clarity around the rules are just three examples.

Bart brings a much-needed set of skills, including both a deep understanding of the professional game and the revenue drivers that will be necessary in the post-Covid-19 world.

One more thing. Reason criticises NZR for doing little for the grassroots game. NZR is offering all the support we can to provincial unions (PU) to get through this. Cuts to PU spending are minor compared to the professional game; that is because our emphasis is to get clubs and schools back up playing as soon as possible.

Brent Impey, chair, NZR [abridged]