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Former All Black winger Bryan 'Bee Gee' Williams was elected president of the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) at its annual meeting in Wellington today.
Williams, 60, who played 75 games for the All Blacks in the 1970s, replaced John Sturgeon in the role after the former All Black manager's two-year tenure ended today.
Ian MacRae, a former All Black captain and teammate of Williams, was elected vice-president.
In the only contested appointment, Hawke's Bay's Rugby Union chairman Richard Hunt defeated Hurricanes chairman Paul Collins 53-36 to fill the central zone's seat on the board.
Collins was recommended by the NZRU appointments and remuneration committee for election to the position but Hunt, who failed in his bid for a place on the board last year, opted to stand and his decision was justified by the vote.
Current NZRU chairman Mike Eagle was re-elected as a southern zone representative and current board member and former North Harbour Rugby Football Union chairman Gerard van Tilborg was re-elected as a north zone representative.
Meanwhile, former NZRU chairman Rob Fisher was elected a life member of the NZRU.