Rugby: Silver Lake deal one step closer as unions vote in favour of private equity at historic NZ Rugby AGM
29 Apr, 2021 12:00 AM
5 minutes to read
Cheree Kinnear explains the key points in the Silver Lake buy-in.
Liam Napier is a sports writer for NZMELiam.Napier@nzherald.co.nz
New Zealand Rugby s 26 provincial unions have voted unanimously in favour of the proposed Silver Lake deal.
Representatives from the provincial unions gathered in Wellington on Thursday at
NZ Rugby s 129th annual general meeting, where they voted via voice unanimously in favour of selling a 12.5 per cent stake in NZ Rugby s commercial rights to US technology investment giants Silver Lake for $387.5 million.
Palmer also reflected on the impact of Covid-19 last year, with registered Māori players down 22 per cent from 2019 to 35,555. However, when lockdowns lifted and players returned to paddocks across the country, the sport played a crucial part in many people’s lives, she said.
Peter Meecham/Getty Images
Former All Black Bill Bush was on hand to watch the Crusaders beat the Blues in Christchurch last Sunday. “Rugby did provide our whānau with what they needed at that time – manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, and kotahitanga. Māori in rugby, and Māori rugby demonstrated resilience and achieved some great outcomes in 2020,” Palmer said.
RNZ
15 April, 2021, 4:30 am Black Ferns captain Eloise Blackwell (left) with Chelsea Alley (far right) before the match against the New Zealand Barbarians last year. Photo: Photosport Ltd 2020
The Blues and Chiefs have named talent-laden squads for next month’s inaugural women’s Super Rugby match.
More than 20 Black Ferns will feature in the historic encounter on Saturday, May 1 at Eden Park.
The Blues squad is headed by Black Ferns captain Eloise Blackwell and also includes her Auckland team-mates Ruahei Demant, Charmaine McMenamin, Aldoa Itunu, Natahlia Moors, Aleisha Nelson, Saphire Abraham and Cristo Tofa.
Black Ferns hooker Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate is one of four Northland players in the Blues squad, which also features three North Harbour reps.
Black Ferns to feature prominently in historic fixture rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.