Sir Eion Edgar has been appointed
vice-president of the Otago Rugby Football Union.
Edgar (65) will succeed Bill Beatty in February next year and
will be the union's president in the most important of years
- World Cup year.
ORFU chairman Wayne Graham said the appointment of Edgar was
great news and he was thrilled to get someone of Edgar's
standing to be the president in such a big year. The role of
the president is mainly ceremonial.
The New Zealand Rugby Union wants provincial union presidents
next year to be high-profile as they will be busy with World
Cup-related activities.
Edgar, who lives in Queenstown, said he felt humbled by the
position and, with a new-look board involved in Otago rugby,
felt he could contribute.
He played the game at a relatively low level but had been a
fan all his life and was involved in commercial ventures such
as the All Black Club in the early 1990s.
He is chairman of the Forsyth Barr Group, and earlier this
year was voted senior New Zealander of the year.
He was greatly looking forward to the World Cup and the
playing of games in the new Dunedin stadium. Forsyth Barr is
the naming sponsor of the stadium.
Edgar is the chairman of the New Zealand Winter Games and the
former president of the New Zealand Olympic Committee.
Edgar's appointment is another major move for Otago rugby.
Earlier this week, Graham was appointed the new chairman of
the board, with former All Black coach Laurie Mains elected
deputy chairman.
Otago captain Alando Soakai re-signed last week, while Otago
stalwart David Latta agreed to be assistant coach of the
Otago team last month.
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