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Rugby Australia boss quits

"The game is bigger than any one individual," says Raelene Castle.

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Embattled Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle resigned last night after ongoing turmoil in the football code.

In a statement to 7:30, Ms Castle said: “I love rugby on every level and I will always love the code and the people I have had the honour of working with since I took this role.

“I made it clear to the board that I would stand up and take the flak and do everything possible to serve everyone’s best interests.

“In the last couple of hours, it has been made clear to me that the board believes my no longer being the CEO would help give them the clear air they believe they need.

“The game is bigger than any one individual — so this evening I told the chair [Paul McLean] that I would resign from the role.

“I will do whatever is needed to ensure an orderly handover. I wish the code and everyone who loves rugby nothing but the best and I would like to thank the people I work with and the broader rugby community for their enormous support.”

Talks between FOX Sports and Rugby Australia over broadcasting rights broke down in February.

RA recently became embroiled in a protracted row with Israel Folau, there was talk of a fallout with former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika; the sport is running significant debts; the team’s World Cup performance was lacklustre; and coronavirus has indefinitely postponed all games.

A number of former Wallabies captains also sent a letter to the board demanding a change of administration, saying the sport had “lost its way”.

Castle’s statement to 7:30 came just hours after she gave an interview in which she said the code had not lost its way.

Castle is the second major sport CEO to quit this week, following the resignation of NRL’s Todd Greenberg.

Source: ABC

2 Responses

  1. Sorry to say, but about time. Similar to the NRL, rugby has been spending large unsustainable amounts of money for no real return to the business.
    The Folou situation should have been handled better (btw I am in no way supporting or agreeing with what he stated in multiple posts) and based on previous performance Cheika should not have been in charge at the World Cup.
    Rugby’s player pathways are a nightmare and we are simply failing to produce players that can play at the highest level on a consistent basis.
    The buck stops with the CEO, and also the Chair of the board. He should be next.

    1. In my opinion, put simply, rugby union will always in the commercial shadow of the NRL.
      The AFL has a captured audience in Victoria so knows that its ratings will keep sponsors happy.
      RA is the filling in the sandwich between NZ rugby and South Africa’s financial interest in Super Rugby.
      Raelene was dealt a poor hand when she became CEO, provincial rugby was in decline, player development was lagging behind top tier nations, coaching was not at an elite standard, keeping Fox Sports happy was the main focus of RA’s attention with test rugby keeping up RA’s waning kudos.
      The resulting stagnation of the union game in Australia was not a positive for long term financial success.

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