NZR director to take sabbatical with French boardroom dispute

Sport Review #272

NEWSDESK: NZR, currently locked in a complicated negotiation with its provincial unions over the game’s future governance model, has allowed director Des Koru-Lounge to take up a sabbatical participating in a boardroom dispute in the French Top 14 competition.

“It’s great to think the skills I first learned blocking the purchase of a new scrum machine on the Waitete RFC board are now taking me to France. Rugby is a game of global opportunities,” said Koru-Lounge.

“It’s a fantastic chance to experience a lack of accountability and engagement in another culture. There’s a real flair to a French boardroom dispute, very unpredictable. On their day they’re world beaters, but could just as easily roll over. But you know there’ll be a sing song and superb beaujolais and roquefort in the ante room afterwards.”

NZR maintains rules keeping governance talent in domestic boardrooms, but allows sabbatical clauses to exchange boardroom ideas and culture, saying in a statement: “None of our directors own their iPad Pros and Corporate Lounge passes, they’re just guarding the legacy for those that come after.”

Koru-Lounge says he’s preparing for the experience by installing Duo Lingo on his phone and borrowing his grandchildren’s Asterix books.

“Language is crucial. If you’re telling someone to ‘go piss up a rope, you wanker’, a kiwi will get that straight away, but the nuance could be lost in French. I just hope I don’t get my nut sack ripped open! Ha! Ha.”

Thanks for reading - Richard

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