NZ Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol has expressed his disappointment in Thursday's groundbreaking vote at NZ Rugby's special general meeting, saying the game in Aotearoa has missed a golden opportunity to safeguard its future, while also doubling down on NZRPA's intention to breakaway from NZRugby.
The provincial unions overwhelmingly rejected the NZRPA-backed Proposal One, which recommended the board adopt most of the changes recommended by last year's review, including the resignation of the 29 PU representatives and the implementation of a fully independent board.
The proposal was also backed by NZR, the Māori Rugby Board and the Super Rugby franchises. Instead, Proposal Two - which allows the provincial unions to retain the balance of power - was passed.
"I think it's disappointing," Nichol told Newshub. f"The game was presented with a wonderful opportunity.
"An independent expert panel laid out clearly on red carpet the recommendations we needed to implement to put ourselves in a fit for purpose position moving forward, but unfortunately, there was a group of provincial unions who just chose to go on a different path, status quo or worse, and they didn't take that opportunity.
"I just think it's really disappointing. You know, we asked for this review.
"We wanted a new way forward. We want to change and, unfortunately, we haven't been able to do it.
"We're not governance fit for purpose. We needed to change to the independent model and we've failed to implement that change."
While he insists rugby at a professional level will be unaffected by the vote, Nichol believes the new model isn't "in the best interests of the game" in New Zealand, rather in the best interests of the provinces.
"Pro rugby will be fine, absolutely fine. The people I think the pro players really feel for is the community game, and the game in this country in terms of its position within our communities and with our identity.
"This was the opportunity to have an independent nine-person group to govern the game in the best interests of the game in this country - not the provincial unions, not NZ Rugby staff, not professional players, not NZ Rugby commercial, not the Super Rugby clubs - and we've missed that boat. We've missed that opportunity.
"Instead, we've got a NZ Rugby union that is now going to govern provincial union rugby in the best interest of provincial unions. That's a bit of a challenge. "
Before the SGM, the NZRPA stated its intent to form a new body, which would be established to govern the professional game if Proposal Two won out. Nicholl says NZRPA will now begin working with its stakeholders to establish that independent panel.
"We aren't going running out of this country or anything like that," he clarified. "We're more committed to rugby and professional rugby in this country than anyone, including the community game and grassroots.
"What we're talking about is a tribunal that comes together in order to ensure really good decisions on behalf of the professional game, to make sure it's effective and efficient as possible, and delivers what the game wants in this country.
"We want to put something together where we come together to make sure we make really good decisions for pro rugby. What we won't do is trust NZ Rugby under this government structure to go off and make those decisions by themselves."
The model isn't unprecedented, with French rugby currently operating with a governing body that runs the game alongside the national union.
"It's coming from a perspective of what we feel the professional game is going to need in terms of connecting those stakeholders and getting them together, making good decisions and getting them on the same page getting good alignment, so we'd be surprised if people don't want to go down the path."
