New Zealand Rugby appoints first woman chair

NEWS: 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.

"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.