Osborne re-elected to Maori rugby board

Former All Black Bill Osborne has been re-elected to the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board.

Osborne, an independent board member, was due to retire but was eligible for reappointment.

He was recommended by the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board appointments committee and re-elected at today's annual meeting in Wellington.

Osborne, 51, was an All Black from 1975 to 1982, playing 48 games, including 16 tests.

The other Maori board members are Paul Quinn (chairman), Ron Peters and Moses Cherrington (Te Hiku o Te Ika), Don Rangi and Whetu Tipiwai (Te Tini A Maui), Smiley Haua and Raymond Te Huki (Te Wai Pounamu) and Eric Rush (independent director).

Meanwhile, Matt Te Pou, whose win against the British and Irish Lions last year crowned his 10 years as Maori coach, is standing against Wellington's Quinn in tomorrow's New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) annual meeting in Wellington.

It is the first time Quinn has faced opposition as Maori representative since he beat Tom Mulligan in 2002.

Quinn said he was the unanimous choice of the NZRU's appointments committee for the Maori seat and accused Te Pou of a "vigorous road show".

Quinn is one of three directors up for re-election. The others are chairman Jock Hobbs (Central) and Ivan Haines (Northern). Both will be elected unopposed unless someone stands from the floor.

- NZPA