Supporting RWC behind the scenes

When Wellington campus events, promotions and commercial activities manager David Pearce (pictured above) was a youngster he knew he wasn’t going to be an All Black – so decided to do the next best thing – sport management.

Mr Pearce was one of the very first-batch of Massey students to complete a Master of Business Studies majoring in sport management in 1998. His first job after graduating was with the New Zealand Rugby Union, where he worked for five years, followed by 10 years working at a senior level with the New Zealand Academy of Sport, Accident Compensation Corporation, University Sport New Zealand and as the project manager of BikeWise Cycling. During his career he has also managed seven New Zealand teams to overseas competitions including three youth games (Australia), two World University Games (South Korea and Turkey) and the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

“If I hadn’t done my studies I wouldn’t have had all these opportunities.”

He joined Massey as a staff member two years ago and was keen to be involved in this country’s biggest sporting event. “I put my name forward like thousands of other New Zealanders,” he says.

After an initial interview for a voluntary role and subsequent discussions he was offered a 13-day paid contract to backfill for four key staff members responsible for a set number of operational tasks throughout the tournament.

“It’s a special opportunity that I am able to take up without compromising my role at Massey,” Mr Pearce says. “I’m mixing with teams, facilitating meetings, being a point of contact and representing Rugby New Zealand 2011.”

He has so far met the Russian team in Christchurch, spent two days in Blenheim making sure teams had what they needed and expected. On Saturday he was at the Wellington Regional Stadium ensuring the logistics were seamless for the South African and Welsh captain’s run, and in the coming weeks will spend more time at the Wellington stadium and also some in New Plymouth and in Dunedin.

“The logistics for the tournament are at a level I haven’t seen before, the planning is phenomenal,” he says. “A staggering amount of work has gone into it. It’s a real credit to Rugby New Zealand for taking it on as a country and organising the tournament to be perfectly spread around the country.”

“It’s great to be playing some small role in the greater tournament, and to get an opportunity to keep an involvement in the sports industry.”