New Zealand Rugby Restructures Leadership as Chris Lendrum Departs After Two Decades

In an important development for New Zealand Rugby (NZR), general manager of professional rugby and performance, Chris Lendrum, has announced his decision to step down after two decades of dedicated service.

Lendrum will finish his executive tenure at the end of May but will remain engaged with New Zealand Rugby in a consulting capacity for critical professional rugby initiatives through to the end of 2026.

Lendrum’s influence on New Zealand’s professional rugby has been profound, having served on the NZR Executive since 2020. His responsibilities highlights high-performance oversight for both men’s and women’s rugby, the management of national tournaments and competitions, as well as oversight of professional player management and the Super Rugby Clubs.

In addition, during his time at NZR, Lendrum has played a crucial role in securing and retaining top talent amidst a fiercely competitive global landscape. His leadership was instrumental in driving investment into women’s high performance and navigating the professional game through the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Expressing his deep appreciation for Lendrum’s long-standing contributions to the sport, reflecting on their professional relationship that spans nearly two decades, Interim CEO, Steve Lancaster, said: “Chris has grown into an internationally respected sporting leader and has made an enormous contribution to rugby in New Zealand.”

He acknowledged Lendrum’s integrity and commitment to the game, emphasising that he would continue to be involved in discussions centred around evolving NZR’s High Performance leadership structure.

Echoing his sentiments,  Chris Lendrum remarked on his lengthy tenure with NZR, highlighting the privilege of working alongside remarkable individuals in the sport.

“Together, we’ve seen plenty of success, although sometimes we haven’t achieved goals that we and the country all wanted so dearly,” he noted.

Lancaster confirmed that a new rugby structure will be rolled out at the end of May, with the organisation’s refreshed strategy prioritising consistent victories for the national teams, supported by robust performance pathways for players and coaches.

A newly created high performance director role will be tasked with overseeing the performance of national teams, especially the All Blacks, reporting directly to the CEO.

On another note, a chief rugby officer position will be established and filled by Lancaster after his interim term ends, overseeing professional rugby operations, community engagement, and stakeholder relationships.

Recruitment for the High Performance Director is set to commence immediately, marking a new chapter in NZR’s journey towards elevating its rugby framework.

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