State of union stronger

Phil Taylor will end more than 12 years of being at the helm of the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Union this Friday.

Taylor was appointed to the job of chief executive officer in May 2000 and can justifiably take a good share of the credit for the considerable progress the union has made over that time.

Not that Taylor is exactly effusive when asked to talk about his achievements; self-praise is not something that comes easily.

But when pushed, he mentions the upgrading of the union's headquarters at Memorial Park, the success of Wairarapa-Bush teams on the representative scene and that more clubs are involved in senior rugby than when he first started.

"Each year, you tend to face different challenges and being able to cope with them is a big part of this job," he said. "Having good staff is a huge help and I've been very lucky in that respect."

Reflecting on club rugby, Taylor said the closeness of the battle for the premier title in recent years had boosted interest but believed it could be advantageous for a competition format to be allowed to run for a few seasons.

"We have tended to do some tinkering on a regular basis and, maybe, we need to be more consistent in that respect."

Taylor said it was also important for delegates elected to serve on the council of clubs, which is responsible for the organisation of the club competitions, to put aside their affiliations and make decisions in the best interests of the game as a whole.

"I know that is easier said than done but it's vital if good decisions are to be made."

Serving as secretary of a body set up by Heartland unions through a memorandum of understanding to provide a collective view to the NZRU on matters concerning the state of the game at that level has been "very satisfying".

Taylor said: "I think it's fair to say the NZRU were pretty much divide and conquer when it came to unions like us but, now we have a combined voice, they are more likely to actually listen to what we have to say.

"It's been a big step forward and it's been very satisfying to be part of it."