New Zealand's Brent Impey quits as SANZAAR chairman

Brent Impey has quit as chairman of sourn hemisphere rugby body SANZAAR, saying four-nation organization is outdated and in urgent need of change. Impey, who has chaired SANZAAR board for five years, will remain chairman of New Zealand Rugby. His resignation comes at a time when New Zealand is becoming increasingly distanced from SANZAAR partnership that also includes South Africa, Australia and Argentina.

When COVID-19 pandemic and closed borders brought full Super Rugby tournament to a halt in March, New Zealand formed its own domestic tournament involving its five Super Rugby teams. It will operate same tournament next year, this time with crossover matches against teams from Australia, which also has formed its own domestic Super Rugby competition.

New Zealand has me clear it sees immediate future of Super Rugby as being a trans-Tasman and Pacific tournament, at least while coronavirus pandemic persists. South Africa chose t to contest Rugby Championship in Australia this month because of late start to its domestic competition, which left players under-prepared.

That left New Zealand, Argentina and Australia to contest a reworked Tri-Nations tournament, but that also gave a glimpse of a future for Championship and Super Rugby which might t include World Cup champion South Africa. New Zealand Rugby has repeatedly spoken of importance of Rugby Championship and its commitment to SANZAAR. But it has also highlighted importance of creating sustainable and commercially viable competitions during COVID era. Impey me clear his view that SANZAAR must apt to a changing world order.

“In my view it is time for SANZAAR to make some fundamental changes which are best placed to happen under an independent chair,” he said. “While re was imperative for change it was appropriate to rotate role. However, I w believe that role of chair of a national union as well as chair of SANZAAR is a conflict for any country.”

Impey called for changes to SANZAAR’s structure, hinting at influence wielded by Six Nations unions in recent changes at World Rugby. “ four country consensus model is outdated if we are looking to grow game commercially and internationally,” he said. “A membership model would allow group to act toger on issues such as global calendar, rules, regulations, governance and mutual commercial interests. Currently, odds are heavily stacked against SANZAAR in its present form being able to affect change.”