Chris Lendrum, New Zealand Rugby’s general manager of professional rugby and performance, is leaving the organisation after two decades, the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the governing body. Lendrum will conclude his executive role at the end of May, with a continued consultancy role extending to the end of the year, NZ Rugby announced on Tuesday.
The move follows the exit of chief executive Mark Robinson last year and, more recently, Mike Anthony, the former manager of high performance. It also comes as NZ Rugby searches for a new head coach for the All Blacks following the unexpected departure of Scott Robertson in January, a decision that drew considerable scrutiny.
NZ Rugby has simultaneously announced the creation of two new leadership roles: a high performance director and a chief rugby officer. The high performance director will be responsible for the performance of all national teams, with a particular focus on the All Blacks, currently ranked second in the world. This role will report directly to the CEO and oversee both the men’s and women’s high performance programmes. The chief rugby officer position will be filled by interim CEO Steve Lancaster once he steps down from his current role and will oversee professional rugby operations, tournaments, community rugby, and stakeholder relationships. Both roles will also report to the CEO.
According to the NZ Rugby statement, Lendrum was instrumental in shaping the modern professional game in New Zealand. His tenure, beginning on the NZR executive in 2020, encompassed responsibility for men’s and women’s high performance, national tournaments, professional player management, and Super Rugby clubs. NZ Rugby highlighted his success in securing and retaining key players, investing in women’s high performance, and navigating the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lendrum acknowledged the significance of his time with the organisation. “It’s been a huge privilege to be involved in New Zealand Rugby and our national teams for this long, and work alongside some incredible people across the game,” he said. “Together, we’ve seen plenty of success, although sometimes we haven’t achieved goals that we and the country all wanted so dearly.” He specifically cited his leadership during the 2021 Black Ferns culture and environment review, which he believes laid the groundwork for their subsequent Rugby World Cup victory, as a key achievement.
“As international rugby becomes increasingly competitive and complex, NZR now requires a singular focus on driving the success of our Teams in Black. I’m excited for their future,” Lendrum added.
Interim CEO Steve Lancaster stated that the new structure will be implemented at the end of May. “Our refreshed strategy has a clear focus on our national teams consistently winning, supported by strong performance pathways for players and coaches. As an organisation, we need to ensure we are set up to deliver this,” he said. Recruitment for the high performance director role is set to begin immediately.
