New Zealand Rugby last week announced a new independent online and 0800 phone management service will be set up to provide ready access for people to raise complaints about inappropriate conduct in rugby.
Establishing the service was one of the recommendations from the 2017 Respect and Responsibility review and will ensure complaints are resolved in a timely and fair manner with independent oversight.
NZR chief executive Steve Tew said the independent service was part of the organisation's commitment to create a respectful and inclusive rugby environment in New Zealand that inspires and unifies people.
``Having an independent complaints management system will ensure all concerns are heard, documented, investigated and decisions are made about the appropriate course of action if required,'' he said.
``It's an investment in our community and ensures concerns can be raised confidentially and discussed with an independent person. People can feel reassured that their concerns will be acted upon with good intent.''
Employment lawyer Steph Dyhrberg from Dyhrberg Drayton Employment Law has been appointed by NZR as the independent manager of the complaints process. Ms Dyhrberg is a well respected employment and dispute resolution lawyer with more than 25 years' experience.
Ms Dyhrberg said she welcomed the opportunity to support rugby in New Zealand to be the best it can be in this regard and lead change within rugby.
``My primary role is to provide an independent service that can identify the nature of any complaint and ensure good process is used to resolve issues as fairly and effectively as possible,'' she said.
The new service will cover all grades of rugby from the professional arm of the sport to junior grades.
While the repercussions are likely to be more severe for those involved in professional rugby, the union was committed to building a respectful and inclusive culture at all levels.
Provincial unions already have the jurisdiction to deal with club members acting inappropriately on the sidelines of junior games, and the ability to require that clubs monitor the behaviour of non-member supporters.
The national union does not expect to be inundated with complaints about players.
It is anticipated the independent complaints manager will exercise a sensible degree of discretion in dealing with any complaints received.
The misconduct definition in NZR's disciplinary regulations refers to matters that have the potential to bring rugby into disrepute, and provincial unions have a process to filter out anything that is ``frivolous or vexatious.''
Sport NZ chief executive Peter Miskimmin said Sport NZ welcomed the introduction of the service and NZR was showing leadership and commitment to creating a respectful and inclusive rugby environment.
The cost of the new service will depend on how busy it is. The system can already be used.
