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Johannesburg - Leading rugby administrator Brendan Morris has been appointed operations manager for the SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby) organisation.
Morris has been involved in the management of international sporting events and elite teams for 12 years and most recently worked in a team management role during the 2010 Tri Nations competition. Prior to that, he worked at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games as venue systems manager.
He has also worked as SANZAR regional tournament director for Australia, was team manager for the Queensland Reds for two years and also ARU international tours and competitions manager.
He also worked in an operational role at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
Morris will be responsible for the management and implementation of SANZAR's two competitions: the three-country, 15-team, four-month Super Rugby competition and the Tri Nations.
SANZAR CEO Greg Peters said he was delighted to have someone of Morris's calibre on board in a key role.
"Brendan was the candidate with the strongest direct experience in this area and won the position against a strong field of international applicants. He is hugely experienced with both rugby and Olympic experience and is highly regarded by his peers," Peters said.
"He arrives at an exciting time for SANZAR as we prepare to kick off the new, expanded Super Rugby season next month and look forward to this year's crucial Tri Nations competition," Peters added.
Morris said he saw the new job as "a challenging but fulfilling role with plenty of opportunity.
"It's an exciting time for the evolution of the SANZAR joint venture with a fresh new competition and the introduction of a 15th team and an expanded finals series, and the Tri Nations just around the corner.
"Over the years working in rugby I have been lucky to work with some very dedicated and talented people across the three SANZAR territories and I am really looking forward to renewing those relationships."
