Wellington Rugby make sweeping changes

The Wellington Rugby Football Union confirmed yesterday the creation of two separate chief executive roles within the region. Photo / Getty

Wellington Rugby is moving to a new era and catching up with the trendsetters in Super Rugby.

Following a three-month internal review, the Wellington Rugby Football Union confirmed yesterday the creation of two separate chief executive roles within the region. One will oversee the Hurricanes with a commercial focus and one will take charge of club and community rugby in the capital.

James Te Puni has spent the past four years juggling everything, which he admitted had been challenging, but he will step down as chief executive of the Hurricanes at the end of this year's Super Rugby season and won't seek appointment for either of the new positions.

"My kids are now seven and eight and I want to spend a little bit more time with them as well," Te Puni said.

In reality, he would have been unlikely to have won either job had he applied given the growing apathy towards the Hurricanes in the capital following years of poor results. Wellington's woeful 2014 ITM Cup campaign further alienated fans.

There's also a bubbling undercurrent of angst in the club scene, while the recent controversial appointment of Earl Va'a as Lions coach did nothing to ease the tension.

The WRFU board is heading towards change too with members Paul Collins and Craig Sims set to stand down next month.

Of New Zealand's other Super Rugby teams, only the Crusaders remain with a chief executive who manages the Super Rugby franchise and a major provincial union. Hamish Riach is in charge of the Crusaders and Canterbury.

"We've probably been a bit reluctant or the slowest to move in that direction," WRFU chairman Iain Potter said. "But we think this is a step in that direction but it's not a total division of labour. We are not going to have two stand-alone entities.

"We've made a decision that we think is best for rugby in Wellington."

The WRFU is facing a $750,000 loss for 2014 following heightened expenses and the poor ticket sales from last year's Sevens Wellington event, which means there will also be further job losses as part of their restructure, the review announced.

Nine full-time jobs and one part-time role will be disestablished and five roles will be created to encompass those positions in a streamlined cost-cutting approach. The two new chief executives are expected to work closely together.

Te Puni, who began the job in early 2011 after a stint at New Zealand Post, turned Wellington Rugby around financially as they posted positive results during his first three years in charge following four years of losses.

But a restrictive multi-million dollar sevens contract hurt the operation. Despite the tough year in 2014, Potter said Te Puni had done a good job.