New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Jock Hobbs is battling a chronic form of leukaemia.

The former All Blacks captain, who is credited with bringing the 2011 Rugby World Cup to New Zealand, was diagnosed with the disease about four years ago.

"Yes I have been diagnosed with leukaemia but it's in a chronic form, not acute. It's being monitored and I feel fine," he told The Dominion Post.

Acute leukaemia, which is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow, requires immediate treatment but chronic forms are sometimes monitored and left untreated for a time and can take months or years to progress.

Hobbs, 49, who is also the chairman of Rugby New Zealand 2011 Limited (RNZ 2011) - the joint venture between the NZRU and New Zealand government responsible for the planning and delivery of the tournament - played 21 Tests for New Zealand, four as captain, and is married to Nicky, the sister of Australia coach Robbie Deans.