Mark Robinson, the chief executive of New Zealand Rugby, announced his decision to step down at the close of the year, leaving open one of the most influential positions in the sport within the country. Over the past six years, Robinson navigated New Zealand’s national rugby operations through the tumultuous pandemic era, characterized by matches in vacant stadiums and stringent health measures.
Robinson’s leadership also extended to steering the organization through financially challenging times. The past three years have seen New Zealand Rugby report significant financial shortfalls, attributed to rising costs associated with retaining top-tier players. Despite recording record revenues, the organization posted an almost 20 million New Zealand dollar deficit ($10.2 million) in the last fiscal year, highlighting the financial struggles experienced by national rugby bodies.
Under Robinson’s tenure, a landmark deal was executed involving an investment of over 200 million dollars ($120 million) by Silver Lake, an investment firm, for a share in New Zealand Rugby’s commercial earnings. Initially met with resistance from the professional players’ union, this agreement eventually enabled New Zealand Rugby to extend financial support to provincial rugby entities during the pandemic.
A significant decision during his leadership was the early appointment of Scott Robertson as the All Blacks head coach, preceding the departure of Ian Foster, who took the All Blacks to the 2023 World Cup final where they narrowly lost to South Africa by a single point.
Robinson announced his departure plans citing a desire to reunite with his family in Australia. Reflecting on his time with New Zealand Rugby, he noted the extraordinary challenges faced, particularly during the pandemic, and the substantial evolution in commercial dealings and competition structures.
Taking over from Steve Tew in 2019, Robinson emphasized the strong foundation of the organization and a promising future for the sport. His departure will coincide with an organizational restructuring, which will consolidate the roles of chief executive of New Zealand Rugby and its commercial division under one leader.