Rarotonga businessman Chris McKinley said rugby clubs will have more influence in the local competition decisions during his two-year term as president of Cook Islands Rugby Union.

McKinley was voted in as the organisation’s president at its annual general meeting on Tuesday night, replacing John Wichman in the position. McKinley will be president until 2014 at least, when the position next comes up for election.

McKinley thanked Wichman for his work at rugby union and said he was looking forward to helping grow the sport in the Cook Islands on domestic and international levels.

He said the local clubs would have more say in the future of the competition and the decisions made by CIRU.

First up is the 2012 domestic competition.

McKinley said the clubs have all been invited to a meeting next week to discuss possible changes to the 2012 season.

Without trying to anticipate any decisions, McKinley said the clubs and the CIRU body would be looking at the season’s structure, team sizes and the number of grades in the competitions.

“We’re going to try and find the best way forward for the competition and we thought we should start now and not wait for next year,” McKinley said.

“We’re under no illusion that it will be hard to fill teams. Player numbers are dropping, as is happening with other codes too, and we’re going to work as hard as we can to pre-empt the loss of teams.”

On a global level, McKinley said CIRU would aim to increase the Cook Islands’ involvement and achievements in international competitions.

He said he would be thinking outside the box and with an entrepreneurial mind to see how the Cook Islands’ international standings could be boosted.

One of the main aspects of this drive will be in searching for a major, international sponsor for the team.

In the meantime, CIRU will focus on three international 15s appearances scheduled for 2012.

Those include a women’s World Cup qualifier in Fiji, a men’s World Cup qualifier in Australia and an under 19s World Cup qualifier in Samoa.

McKinley has previously worked as president for Cook Islands Tennis and has played softball at a high level as well as tennis, rugby and cricket at high levels, too.

He said sport has always been a major part of his life and he expected CIRU would be able to use his contacts made over the years in New Zealand to great effect.

“I have a love for sports and a passion for sports and I think that will show through in the ways I look after rugby,” McKinley said.

“But in my other hat, I won’t forget the other codes,” he said, referring to his work at Turtles

CIRU election of officers:

Patron: Prime Minister Henry Puna

Vice Patron: Air New Zealand Cook Islands Manager David Bridge

President: Chris McKinley

Vice-President: Lara Sadaraka

Secretary: Nga Puna

Assistant Secretary: Massey Mateariki

Treasurer: Tom Wills

Assistant Treasurer: Anthony Turua

Outgoing executives: John Wichman, Puai Wichman, Mike Henry and Ratu Mato.