Tasman rugby board revamped

A revamped Tasman Rugby Union board will lead the union into the 2025 season.

In changes announced today, the TRU board will have a new [interim] chairman, while a former long-standing director will return to the board table.

The radical changes have come about after a prolonged period of board instability. Following chairman Scott Ford’s departure in February, 2023 six board directors have resigned for a variety of reasons, leaving the management team short on both numbers and governance experience.

Wayne Young, chairman from 2018-2021, returns to the revamped board as interim chairman. He will be joined by another former board member, Tony Healey. Healey was previously a TRU board member for nine years, serving as deputy chairman under Young’s leadership. He will chair the audit and risk [finance] committee.

Baz Henare, chairman for the past two years since Ford resigned, will move back into a delegate’s role, he and Bevan King representing the Marlborough Sub-Union.

Tony Peacock and Chris Little retain their roles as the Nelson Sub-Union delegates on the board.

Young recently served on the New Zealand Rugby Union for three years, being overlooked when the revamped nine-person board was announced in December. With a wealth of experience in business and governance, plus a grassroots rugby background, Young is well placed to provide stability going forward.

Young was not ready to comment at this stage on the changes, except to say, “deeds, not words, are what is required from everyone in Tasman rugby at the moment”.

TRU CEO Steve Mitchell welcomed the changes, looking forward to more stability in the months ahead.

“These have been challenging times … so I am looking forward to working with the new board and creating positive outcomes for the benefit of Tasman rugby,” said Mitchell.

“I have worked with both Wayne and Tony before so there is some history there and existing relationships, which will only strengthen the alignment between management and board.”