New Zealand will be welcoming of the day an openly gay player is named in the All Blacks, New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew says.
It comes as New Zealand's major sports bodies have united under principles to encourage greater diversity and inclusion.
Officials from rugby, cricket, football, netball, rugby league and hockey will establish a framework of agreed policies and practices by the end of the year to combat prejudice in sport.
A group announcement on Tuesday followed the findings of the first international study on homophobia in sport.
The study found large numbers of gay, lesbian and bisexual people didn't feel welcome in a sports environment.
Eighty per cent of those surveyed - which included respondents in New Zealand - had witnessed or experienced homophobia.
Tew said the Out on the Fields research completed in 2015 prompted a sports-led approach to do more to encourage diversity and inclusion.
Tew added that the All Blacks are ready for an openly gay player.
"I'd like to think the [All Blacks] environment is ready for whatever players get selected and our job is to nurture a team ," Tew said.
"Are we ready for a gay All Black? I absolutely think we are, but there has to be one."
The 2015 Rugby World Cup final was refereed by Nigel Owens, an openly gay man, and Tew believes there is no reason why Kiwis wouldn't also be welcoming towards a gay All Black.
"No one has yet said they're an All Black and gay, one day that will happen, and I would hope New Zealand is more than ready, in fact is welcoming of it."
Watch the interview with Steve Tew in the video above.
Newshub
