World Rugby appoints Mark Robinson as Chief of Rugby

World Rugby has appointed former New Zealand Rugby chief executive, Mark Robinson, as the governing body’s new chief of Rugby.

The announcement sees Robinson transition to the international federation in May to lead a newly created Rugby Division.

The reason behind the appointment is the delivery of World Rugby’s new five-year plan, which prioritises fan engagement and growth in non-traditional markets like the United States.

Robinson, who steered New Zealand Rugby through the COVID-19 pandemic and brokered the pivotal Silver Lake private equity deal, will now oversee the operations of match officials, game technology, laws evolution, and player welfare to maximise the impact of future Rugby World Cups.

Commenting on the announcement, World Rugby chair, Brett Robinson, said: “Mark’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for rugby. His leadership, rugby intelligence, and knowledge will be instrumental in reimagining how our great game grows and thrives as we embark on a bold new five-year strategy.”

Strategic Restructure and Global Alignment

Robinson’s appointment is part of a broader organisation-wide realignment to support the revamped international calendar, including the launch of the Nations Championship and Nations Cup in July 2026.

Robinson is currently leading a sport-wide review of game philosophy and match official alignment, set to be presented at the 2026 Shape of the Game conference in late February.

As part of the new operating model, Yvonne Nolan has been promoted to chief regulatory officer, while chief operating officer Charlotte Samuelson is set to depart the organisation at the end of January.

Mark Robinson will report directly to chief executive Alan Gilpin, working alongside Mark Harrington (chief of player welfare) and Phil Davies (director of Rugby).

World Rugby CEO, Alan Gilpin, noted that Robinson’s commercial acumen is a key asset.

“Mark’s understanding of fan engagement, elite pathways, and modern rugby operating models makes him exceptionally well placed to lead our new, strengthened Rugby Division,” Gilpin stated.

The organisation is also ramping up its commercial family ahead of the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia, recently announcing LIQUI MOLY as an official partner.

Robinson’s move to Dublin follows a six-year tenure at New Zealand Rugby where he oversaw the successful hosting of the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the continued global expansion of the All Blacks and Black Ferns brands.

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