REPORT: Sexism, violence, alcohol and drug issues - report uncovers darker side of New Zealand rugby

An independent report into New Zealand Rugby has found that the sport has to confront issues surrounding sexism, violence, alcohol consumption, attitudes to homosexuality and a culture of entitlement if it wants to remain relevant in a modern New Zealand.

In November 2016 New Zealand Rugby (NZR) committed to an independent Respect and Responsibility Review (RRR) to “understand” how NZR can lead, develop and support people within the rugby system to be better people and collectively to create better rugby players, teams, volunteers and experiences.

The report states: “Events prior to and in 2016 began to undermine rugby’s place and contribution, with issues that no longer reflected
contemporary New Zealand’s values and expected behaviours. These issues were of concern to people within the rugby family and the wider community.”

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According to the report an analysis of misconduct information over the four-year period 2013 – 2017 covered 36 cases of serious misconduct and misconduct dealt with by NZ Rugby.

This involved 33 incidents involving players, two involving a team and one involving a club. In this there were four incidents of individuals who were repeat offenders.

In more than half of the situations alcohol played a key factor, with drugs and drug/alcohol combinations also having an impact.

Attitudes to women in the sport were also marked out as an area in which the sport could improve. Comparisons of harassment of women in sport with women in other contexts identified that while harassment or abuse levels were similar, the athletes experienced significantly more harassment from male authority figures than did the controls.

The report suggests that a sense of entitlement can beset young rugby playing males as early as secondary school. With first XV rugby being elevated to the status of being a potential pathway into professional rugby, some boys ‘develop a sense of entitlement that can result in disrespectful and irresponsible attitudes and behaviours.’