Auckland Rugby League suspends directors; possible financial irregularities referred to police and Serious Fraud Office

Auckland Rugby League has referred an investigation into possible financial irregularities over to police and the Serious Fraud Office. Photo / Photosport

Auckland Rugby League has suspended three of its board of directors after an investigation into possible financial irregularities in the organisation.

The matter has been referred to the police and Serious Fraud Office after a preliminary inspection by accounting firm PwC on instruction from the ARL management showed evidence of misapplied funds.

While ARL would not comment on the sum of those funds or clarify what was meant by financial irregularities when contacted by the Herald, chief executive Rebecca Russell said certain irregularities were initially identified in July 2023 and, since then, she and the ARL Governance team have been investigating the issues.

PwC was instructed in August 2023 to investigate the issue, which considered material starting in March of 2013 and running through to the present day.

Russell said yesterday while three had been suspended, the culpability of any person named in the initial report was yet to be determined.

Russell added the remaining four directors would continue to provide the governance necessary to ensure the ongoing activities and operations of ARL while a more comprehensive investigation is undertaken.

She confirmed that the organisation has been in touch with both police and the Serious Fraud Office, but did not yet have a timeframe of when the investigation might come to a conclusion.

Police have confirmed they received a report in relation to the matter and inquiries are ongoing.