New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs has resigned from his positions on the board of the union and New Zealand's Rugby World Cup organisation due to ill health.

Hobbs, a former All Blacks captain, was diagnosed this year with leukemia but, after undergoing chemotherapy, was found to be suffering from more serious non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Chief executive Steve Tew said Hobbs' illness would require aggressive treatment over a longer period and, as a consequence, he had resigned from both boards.

Hobbs has been chairman of the union since 2002. He will be replaced by acting chairman Mike Eagle.

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