Former AB now main man
Mark Robinson knows being a former All Black will only buy him so much time in his job as NZ Rugby chief executive.
Robinson was yesterday unveiled as the man to replace NZ Rugby boss Steve Tew when the latter departs in January, and in doing so will become the first former international player to run the game in New Zealand.
The 45-year-old Robinson has an excellent pedigree; born and raised in Taranaki, he played for the Crusaders and earned nine caps as a midfielder for the All Blacks 2000-2002.
Later he studied at Cambridge University in England, was the Taranaki Rugby Football Union’s chief executive and has since been working in consultancy in areas of education, environment, energy and agriculture.
So far, so good. Being a director on the NZ Rugby board and also having a seat on the World Rugby council, means there is little chance of Robinson being blindsided as he prepares to replace Tew.
But Robinson also knows he has to be realistic. When speaking of the challenges he will face in arguably one of the more difficult periods in NZ Rugby’s history, Robinson did not unleash any jingoistic propaganda.
New Zealand may pump out talented players at a terrific rate, and boast the most high-profile team on the planet in the All Blacks, but he didn’t try to say all was cosy in the NZ Rugby nest.
Instead Robinson ticked off the parts of the game that cannot be neglected: the state of club rugby; secondary school participation numbers; retaining professional players; and finding ways to make sure rugby appeals to boys and girls of all ages were on the hit list. Being a former All Black,
Former All Black Mark Robinson played nine tests from 2000 to 2002.
he said, provided him with insights on how rugby operated from the grass roots to the elite level. But he accepted it was not going to provide a silver bullet
when problems arose in a business that employs 140 staff around the country, and turns over tens of millions of dollars a year. Mark Robinson, who will replace outgoing NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Tew early next year, is the first former All Black to be appointed to the position.
‘‘That [being a former All Black] helps you see certain situations through a certain lens, which can be helpful,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘But to be honest this role is so broad and vast with such complexity, I will have to rely on a bit more than just being a former player to be able to work through challenges.
‘‘So, yes, it has got a part to play but it is certainly not something I will be relying on.’’
NZ Rugby chairman Brent Impey said the recruitment was thorough. And so it should have been.
Tew, who said several months ago that he was going to stand down, has done a fine job in trying circumstances since he replaced Chris Moller after the 2007 World Cup, with the
Mark Robinson
highlights being the hosting of the 2011 tournament and the All Blacks winning the Webb Ellis Cup twice.
Impey said 85 candidates applied, of which 15-20 were from overseas. Six New Zealanders were granted interviews.
Those who made the short list had to prove, among other things, that they loved rugby, could be innovative, and had ‘‘connectivity’’ with their fellow New Zealanders.
Robinson did enough to convince his new employers that he could do all of the above. This is important.
He needs to be able to empathise with members of the rugby community who volunteer their time to clubs for love not money.
Having contacts at World Rugby should also ensure he has a head start when it comes to maintaining relationships with members from the powerful northern hemisphere unions.
Continuing to find ways to keep top All Blacks in New Zealand would also be paramount, he noted. It was nothing new but it was getting harder.
‘‘It is not a doomsday situation we are in,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘We just need to recognise we have got some challenges, and move quickly on them.’’
‘‘This role is so broad and vast with such complexity I will have to rely on a bit more than just being a former player to be able to work through challenges.’’