8 Sep 2010

New structure starting for Highlanders

7:43 am on 8 September 2010

The Highlanders Board has started a recruitment process for the newly created role of General Manager for the Highlanders Super Rugby franchise.

The Board has been considering the optimal structure for the Highlanders as it participates in an expanded Super Rugby from 2011 and has identified the need to establish a small management team that will focus exclusively on the Highlanders' activities.

The Highlanders' member Provincial Unions, Southland, Otago and North Otago and the New Zealand Rugby Union, along with other key stakeholders across the region, were all consulted over a period of time and have endorsed the new structure.

The new structure will see the reduction in management services provided by the Otago Rugby Union and will ultimately also involve the recruitment of a few key positions - a High Performance Manager, Marketing Consultant, and Team Manager - in the Highlanders off-field team.

The Highlanders have struggled to attract players, fans and money in recent years.