New Zealand rugby is facing a top-level clear-out as provincial officials demanded action over the country's loss of rights to co-host the World Cup.
The newly appointed chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, Rob Fisher, said he would stand down just two weeks after taking the job and urged all NZRFU board members to offer themselves for re-election.
Fisher said he would not stand for re-election at an emergency meeting today called by the NZRFU's 27 constituent unions.
"The decision of the provincial union chairmen to call for a special meeting is a clear signal to the NZRFU board that we should stand down and hold elections for a new board," Fisher said.
"I will be recommending that course of action to my fellow board members when I speak with them in the next few days," he said.
"If they accept my recommendation, which I believe they will, then we can set in train the constitutional requirements to elect a new board".