NZ Rugby review reveals misogyny and 'torturous' process to reach gender quota

Article here. Excerpt:

'The process to get more women on the New Zealand Rugby board has been described as “tortuous” in a damning review. Its findings also reinforced how women faced “chauvinism, misogyny and racism” in the sport, a leading women’s rugby advocate says.

The review into NZ Rugby’s governance processes and structures – led by chair David Pilkington, Anne Urlwin, Whaimutu Dewes and former All Blacks captain Graham Mourie – also highlighted how some in rugby thought gender equity would be an “impediment”, that appointments of women to the board was down to “political correctness”, and qualified women were not willing to put themselves through a “barbaric” process to sit on the board. There was also a “strong resistance” to change.

Women in Rugby Aotearoa board chair Traci Houpapa said the review states “very clearly that women have been subjected to chauvinism, misogyny and racism”.

NZ Rugby was amongst 67 sports boards required to hit a 40% board gender quota by 2021, put in place by the government as part of its Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy.

Because of its inability to hit the target – which was described as “greatly concerning” by current board chair Dame Patsy Reddy – NZ Rugby had $280,000 in funding held back by Sport NZ.

It was repaid when the quota was finally hit this year with the appointment of seasoned board director Catherine Savage. She joined Dame Farah Palmer, Dame Patsy Reddy and Rowena Davenport in April. NZ Rugby was the last major sports board in the country to reach the quota.

The review also found some were concerned about “what they considered the ‘manipulation’ of the nominated category”, to secure appointments of women to the board.'