Andrea Nelson: NZ Rugby League's new CEO on the state of the game, opportunities

New Zealand Rugby League's chief executive-elect is eager to embrace the sport's pinnacle events when she takes charge in July. 

Andrea Nelson steps into the role ahead of the men's and women's World Cups in October and November across New Zealand, Australia, and Papua New Guinea, and November's wheelchair tournament in Wollongong. 

She’s replacing Greg Peters, who stepped down after eight years in the role. 

Nelson told Mike Hosking the sport is in great health, so it’s an incredible opportunity and great honour to come in at this point to lead it. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Last week it was the rugby Union, of course, and
this week it is league. We've got a new CEO.
Andrea Nelson led the twenty seventeen Rugby League World Cup.
She's held senior roles at the IOC, FEEFA and the ICC,
and she's with us. A very good morning to you,
good morning make and congratulations, thank you very much. Is
the fact you're arriving in World Cup year a headache

(00:20):
for rehindurance? Oh?

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Look, I think it's pretty clear that the preparations are
going well for the Kiwis and the Kiwi Firs and
they're looking in great shape and there's a fantastic team
at New Zealand Rugby League, so I think it's a
great opportunity to come in when the world's eyes will
be on the international game.

Speaker 1 (00:37):
What's the state of the place in your view?

Speaker 2 (00:40):
Look, I was in New Zealand Rugby League when I
was written on the World Cup about ten years ago,
and I have to say under Greg Peters leadership, the
sport's gone from strength to strength. Participation is growing. There's
big crowds turning up for international rugby league, and I
think with the Warriors succeeding in both on the field
and off, you know, the sports in great house. It's
an incredible opportunity for me and a great honor to

(01:03):
be coming in at this point to lead the sport.

Speaker 1 (01:06):
Do explain that link to the Warriors, because one of
my interests is international league is not as strong as
say the NRL for example, or the Warriors directly connected
to New Zealand Rugby League and therefore their success is
your success.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yeah. Look, obviously unred outsider's perspective because I haven't got
my feet under the desk yet, Mike. But my view
is is that a rising tide raisers or boats, more
eyes on the game, means more young kids inspired to
take part and that's a huge part of what New
Zealand Rugby League is there to do, provide the pathways
and the opportunities for kids around the country to play league.

(01:39):
And then of course the success of the NRL means
that the superstars who are Kiwi's and Kiwi ferans have
the attention we can week out. Whether you're a Warrior's fan,
a Tiger's fan, you know, whatever team you support in
the NRL, there's fantastic New Zealand players. In fact, I
think the latest dat I saw was around thirty percent
of the NRL New Zealand players. So that's really where

(02:00):
we fit in.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Right, What are you going to do reinternational housings on
the stage because there is a limited window for International league,
do we need more matches?

Speaker 2 (02:09):
Look, I think no c new Dyalan Rugby League would
ever not say we need less matches. Obviously, getting it
much in great content regularly is a priority. But with
the Pacific Cup of Protific Champs in place, that gives
regular fantastic content not just for Kiwi fans but for
Tonga Samai and the huge atmosphere and Sunday bring. I
was at Eden Park for that sellout game last October

(02:32):
and I honestly as one of the greatest sports events
I've been at, and I've worked on some pretty big ones.
I think International League brings something different and special and
so the more of it we can get, the better.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
From your personal point of view, given where you've been
and what you've done, is sports sport or not? It
is sports sport well a sports sport, I mean in
other words, if you're a sports manager, you can manage
any sport or do you have a particular predilection towards
a type of sport or a certain certain sport.

Speaker 2 (03:00):
I think when you come in to work in a sport,
you have something that you want to achieve, and that's
either a real connection with the sport, which I really
feel with League, you know, you know something that you
really personally have a passion for. But I also think
across lots of different sports they've got different missions. For example,
my most recent role at gymnastics was all about creating
a really safe environment for young people around the country

(03:21):
and that was the real driving passion. So I think
all these jobs are different. It really depends what the
organization is trying to do, exactly the same as a
CEO of any business.

Speaker 1 (03:31):
Well, I wish you the very best with it, Andrew
Andrew Nelson, who's the new CEO of New Zealand Ruby League.
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