CRFU boss’ shock resignation
No-one at the helm of Crusaders or Canterbury rugby.
Nathan Godfrey’s departure from his plum job as CEO of the Canterbury Rugby Football Union was messy and confusing.
How else to explain the circumstances that led to him announcing his resignation, via a press release, on Thursday?
This tale starts with Godfrey indicating to CRFU board chairman Peter Winchester in early August that he wanted out of one of the top provincial rugby jobs in New Zealand.
Then, on August 17, Godfrey announced in a circular – titled the ‘‘official mail of the CRFU’’ – that he was going on leave from the offices at Rugby Park in Christchurch to take a sabbatical, and work on his MBA thesis until September 5. Chief financial officer Tony Smail was appointed acting CEO. But Godfrey, after 20 months in the job, never returned. It also turns out his resignation had been accepted midAugust. Godfrey said in his farewell press release: ‘‘Out of respect for Hamish Riach’s departure as Crusaders CEO, I chose to delay my announcement until now.’’
Riach, after 17 years as boss of the Crusaders (and 15 in charge of Canterbury), left on August 31 to be CEO of the Ashburton District Council. Given Canterbury were embarking on a mission to defend their Mitre 10 Cup premiership title, the timing of Godfrey’s sabbatical raised eyebrows in the rugby community.
However Winchester said the leave had been approved when Godfrey started the job, saying he was also entitled to take extra days off after September 5. ‘‘That was his final lead-up, so we just decided that he could have some extended study leave to get his MBA finished,’’ Winchester said.
‘‘Given the fact he had given me notice that he would be resigning, so that was how that worked.’’
Winchester, when asked if he tried to persuade Godfrey to stay, said: ‘‘We talked through a lot of things. He had obviously been talking with his family, and was coming off maternity leave. It was a personal thing for him.
‘‘It was clear the decision … was what he wanted to do.’’
Godfrey said in his prepared statement that he will now be involved with ‘‘daddy day care’’ duties with his nine-month-old daughter, while his wife returned to work. Winchester said there was no ‘‘issues on the table’’ in regards to Godfrey’s exit: ‘‘This is just a personal choice of someone and I can respect that.’’
So Godfrey, 40, who previously spent 18 months working for the Wellington Phoenix Football Club as the head of commercial and prior to that the AFL in Adelaide, pulled the pin.
When Godfrey started at the CRFU he had plenty of ideas, including the ‘‘We All Bleed Red’’ and ‘‘Let Her Play’’ programmes.
He was also bullish about the need to implement change, especially around the digital space, and coming into a role which Riach had done for so long meant not all ideas were popular among staff. When Godfrey spoke to Stuff in June 2017 he reflected on the ARL culture, comparing it to that of the CRFU.
‘‘I would describe it as ruthless,’’ he said. ‘‘On and off the field, they (AFL) have that high performance culture. It’s probably something I want to bring to this organisation.’’
Godfrey’s departure means the CRFU and Crusaders, the latter are due to announce Riach’s replacement soon, are now without contracted CEOs.