New Zealand Rugby appoints Patsy Reddy as first female chairperson

New Zealand Rugby on Wednesday named former governor general Patsy Reddy as chair, the first woman to hold the position in the 130-year history of the governing body.

"It is an absolute honour to be elected to the position of chair at such a pivotal and exciting moment for rugby (in New Zealand)," Reddy said.

She was elected at a meeting in Auckland, New Zealand Rugby, founded in 1892, said in a statement.

Reddy will take over when outgoing chair Stewart Mitchell steps down in the new year.

Dame Patsy Reddy has become the first female Chair of New Zealand Rugby as Stewart Mitchell elects to step down as Chair on 31 January 2023. Professor Farah Palmer and Bailey Mackey have been appointed Deputy Chairs. Read more on our website: https://t.co/7CatJkL3xA pic.twitter.com/E8d4rCN5wv

"I could not be more excited about the challenges ahead," she said.

After a long career as a lawyer, Reddy was appointed to the board of New Zealand Rugby in April having served as the country's governor general from 2016 until 2021.

Reddy's appointment comes at a time when women's rugby is on a high in New Zealand, after the country's Black Ferns won the World Cup last month.