SAS insights drive All Blacks as ‘Official Analytics Supplier’ to New Zealand Rugby

• Player and team performance insights help drive competitive advantage
• Coaches use SAS for ease-of-use to explore data independently of IT

Acknowledging that in sport as in business, the ability to quickly analyse data for insights to competitive advantage is critical to success, SAS has been working with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and the All Blacks for seven seasons and became the “Official Analytics Supplier” late last year.

The relationship between the two organisations goes back to 2013 when NZR adopted SAS Visual Analytics to replace a spreadsheet-based reporting process. Since then, the ability of rugby’s national sporting body to take advantage of player, team, match and competitor data has come a long way, as NZR Performance Analysis Manager, Jason Healy, explains.

“Before SAS, we were reliant on data collected by a third party which was also available to our competitors. Today, we import data from a very wide range of sources, including video, and use the SAS platform to get it all in one place to sanitize it and make ready for analysis and reporting.

“Where, with the old spreadsheet system, it could be one or two days before we produced something for the coaches, we can now do so within minutes of the data being available. SAS saves a huge amount of time dealing with massive volumes of data.”

NZR collects and manages data for all national teams including the All Blacks on the SAS platform as well as those playing in the international Investec Super Rugby competition and the national provincial competition, the Mitre 10 Cup.

Individual coaches use the system in different ways but all with the objective of seeking insights that can lead to improved player and team performance; better understanding competitors’ strengths; and challenge any biases.

Jason Healy says some coaches prefer customised reports, while others take advantage of the ease-of-use of the SAS platform to do their own exploring.

He adds: “You don’t need an analytics background to get massive value out of the data. The beauty of our environment is that it gives the end-user coaches license to go on their own journey with it.”

Speaking of the announcement, Vice President of Global Marketing for SAS Asia Pacific, Alastair Sim, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised in this way as an important contributor to the ongoing success of NZ Rugby and the All Blacks. SAS is widely used in sport around the world and we look forward to continuing our analytics support for true champions of the sport that its followers everywhere call ‘the game they play in heaven’.”

About New Zealand Rugby

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) leads, supports, grows and promotes the game of rugby union with the goal of inspiring and unifying New Zealanders.

NZR has offices in Wellington and Auckland as well as a number of staff working in the community game across New Zealand.

Founded in 1892, NZR is one of New Zealand's largest sports organisations, with a team of employees committed to ensuring the national game is run smoothly and effectively at all levels. As a modern, professional sport, rugby encompasses a wide range of activities and functions.

NZR’s people manage New Zealand’s national rugby teams and administer national competitions and participation in international competitions and matches - including Test matches - as well as assisting community rugby throughout the country.

NZR has direct relationships with its members, including all 26 Provincial Unions, Investec Super Rugby clubs and commercial and charity partners as well as international rugby bodies and stakeholders, such as the New Zealand Government.