Outgoing New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chief executive Mark Robinson believes he leaves the governing body in a stronger position than when he arrived although he admits the job was a challenge.
NZR announced in June that Robinson would step down from his role at the governing body at the end of this year.
This, after he revealed that he would like to spend more time with family, who relocated to Australia.
Robinson was appointed in 2019 and officially stepped into the position in 2020, succeeding Steve Tew.
He said it was a privilege to serve as the NZR’s chief executive after previously serving as a board member of the organisation and he also represented the All Blacks in nine Tests as a centre from 2000 to 2002.
Rocked by Covid-19 pandemic soon after starting his job
Robinson was at the helm of NZR during a challenging period both on and off the field and mere months after he stepped into his position the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted the global sporting calendar.
During his stint as chief executive, NZR posted losses in each of the past three years, including a near NZ$20 million shortfall for 2024 despite record revenue of $285m.
He led the Silver Lake deal, securing a $200m investment for the American global private equity firm to become a private equity partner and minority shareholder in NZR’s commercial arm, although the terms of the deal were later renegotiated after pushback from the New Zealand Rugby Players Association.
Robinson also dealt with sponsor turmoil when Ineos walked away from its six-year NZ$21m-a-year contract halfway through.
During his tenure, New Zealand’s Black Ferns won a World Cup on home soil in 2022 and the All Blacks suffered a one-point loss to arch rivals the Springboks in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final.
Apart from Robinson’s departure there has also been several changes at board level, with David Kirk, who was the All Blacks captain when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987, taking over as NZR’s new chairperson.
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Robinson admitted that it was challenging to serve as the governing body’s chief executive but is satisfied with the legacy he’s leaving.
“There’s no doubt it was by far the most challenging thing that I’d ever encountered personally,” he told Newstalk ZB. “It was probably the most challenging thing rugby had ever encountered, sport for that matter.
“As I look back, I’m really proud with how we came through that. I don’t think people can appreciate the things we were weighing up and having to consider on a daily basis across those sort of two-and-a-half years.
‘It was a tough time’
“We’ve come out the other side of it and I’m sure the new leadership coming into the role will very much be focused on going forward. But it was a tough time.”
Although it’s been six months since it was revealed that Robinson would step down from his position, NZR are still searching for a replacement with their current general manager of community rugby, Steve Lancaster, set to take over on an interim basis.
Robinson said he is not in the know about about conversations regarding his successor, but whoever replaces him will come in during an interesting period for international rugby.
There will be major changes to the global calendar, highlighted by the introduction of the Nations Cup while the All Blacks are set to tour South Africa for the first time in 30 years in 2026.
Robinson’s time at NZR also coincided with intense public debate over the All Blacks’ coaching appointment with Scott Robinson replacing Ian Foster after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Foster was in charge of the All Blacks when they were beaten 2-1 in a home series by Ireland for the first time in 2022 and after a slow start to their Rugby Championship campaign that year, assistant coaches John Plumtree and Brad Mooar were let go while Jason Ryan and ex-Ireland boss Joe Schmidt eventually came on board as part of Foster’s backroom staff.
Although Foster retained his position, with the backing of senior players, he would not stay on after the 2023 World Cup with Robertson appointed to replace him several months before the global showpiece in France that year.