New Zealand Rugby fills newly created Chief Rugby Officer position

New Zealand Rugby’s latest executive appointment is Michael Collins in the newly created role of Chief Rugby Officer.

Collins has been involved in New Zealand rugby for decades, having played for both Waikato (73 caps) and the Chiefs (82 caps) before joining London Irish and Glasgow Warriors. Since his playing career, he has held the role of CEO at Taranaki Rugby and the Chiefs, and has more recently served as Director of Sport at Bond University and as an independent member of the Super Rugby Pacific Board.

His new role will see Collins responsible for overseeing both professional rugby operations and the community game, working in tandem with the new High Performance Director, Don Tricker. The pair will take up their new positions later in 2026, with their respective roles offering a more specialised approach to the broader General Manager of Professional Rugby and Performance position previously held by Chris Lendrum.

“Mike is a highly regarded leader with a huge amount of experience and success across both community and high-performance rugby. He has a strong and exciting vision that aligns with our all-of-game strategy,” NZR CEO Steve Lancaster said.

“This is a critical role for NZR, and Mike will lead a connected New Zealand rugby system which maintains a thriving community game and connects the structures that support our professional environments. It’s a broad and significant remit, one we know that Mike is committed to and well-equipped to advance.”

Collins’ appointment also follows the additions of Chief Financial Officer Chris Kinraid and Chief Commercial Officer Chris Brown, bringing a period of significant change one step closer to conclusion.

“It is an honour to be given this opportunity, and it’s a role I don’t take lightly,” Collins said. “I’ve been lucky enough to see this game from a lot of different angles – as a player in the amateur and professional eras, in game development, in high performance, and leadership positions with the Taranaki Rugby Union and the Gallagher Chiefs.

“Every one of those experiences has shaped how I think about what New Zealand rugby needs to keep thriving. I’m looking forward to listening, learning quickly, and working with everyone across the game to help us go where we need to go.”