Ex Wallabies Captains Speak
*Wallabies skippers demand leadership change at Rugby Australia* Image: https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/10a7f917d39575ba5a0c6460946be88d?width=650 (https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/10a7f917d39575ba5a0c6460946be88d)George Gregan and Phil Kearns are among the captains who signed the letter...
Wallabies skippers demand leadership change at Rugby Australia
George Gregan and Phil Kearns are among the captains who signed the letter
Eleven former Wallabies captains have co-signed a letter calling for the current Rugby Australia leadership to stand aside to allow the ailing game to be transformed.
Rugby Australia interim chair Paul McLean has seen the letter.
In an unprecedented move, some of Australias most decorated captains including Nick Farr-Jones, George Gregan and Michael Lynagh have co-signed the letter calling for financial transparency and leadership change.
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The extraordinary letter obtained exclusively by The Australian is signed by Farr-Jones, Gregan, Lynagh, Simon Poidevin, Phil Kearns, Rod McCall, Jason Little, Nathan Sharpe, Stirling Mortlock, George Smith and Stephen Moore
The Wallabies skippers were moved by the dire state of the game, which is facing insolvency.
The letter reads:
READ MORE:Rugbys reset could bring an end to Hoopers reign|Keys to the code in young hands|RA crisis is yet to scare off Rennie|The sport that is guilty of all seven deadly sins|Rugby community must storm the Bastille and take control of their gameAs Wallaby Captains we feel privileged to have represented our country and led our respective teams into battle, facing difficult situations together.
We lost some but we won many. Win or lose, every time we pulled on the gold jersey we were driven by the desire to earn the respect of Australian supporters across the country and around the world. We wanted them to be proud of Australian rugby and what Australian rugby stood for.
In recent times, the Australian game has lost its way. It is a defeat inflicted not by COVID-19, or an on-field foe, but rather by poor administration and leadership over a number of years.
Our rural clubs, junior clubs, subdistricts and community clubs have been let down and we firmly believe transformation is needed across the game in this country. Theres no time to waste.
We speak as one voice when we say Australian rugby needs new vision, leadership and a plan for the future. That plan must involve, as a priority, urgent steps to create a much-needed sustainable, commercial rugby business.
No doubt there are now good people with good ideas and we must include them in the renewal. There has also been considerable work done in the background to quickly establish a list of urgent initiatives and action items.
A number of highly experienced rugby and business leaders are standing by to mentor and lead.
The captains say the game deserves a brighter future.
Our schools and clubs are populated with an army of amazing mums and dads and volunteers, and players of all shapes and sizes, who must have a game run for them.
Our youth deserve to be inspired. They need to see a pathway and to feel a connection with the Wallaby jersey.
It is with this in mind we ask the current administration to heed our call and stand aside to allow the game to be transformed so we emerge from this pandemic with a renewed sense of unity and purpose.
There is only one question that needs to be answered at club level, at state level and at national level: Is this decision in the best interests of Australian rugby?
Only when we can answer that question openly, honestly and transparently at all levels can we restore Australian Rugby to greatness.
The captains letter comes just weeks after Rugby Australia recorded a $9.4 million loss in their unaudited 2019 report, while giving themselves a 72 per cent on an internal scorecard and with CEO Raelene Castle in line to receive a $114,000 performance bonus.
The letter also calls for:
The release of the numerous reviews into Australian Rugby and the establishment of a cabinet to implement the best recommendations from those reviews.
The convening of a Special General Meeting, no later than April 30, 2020, to table the 2019 annual accounts and any other business put before that meeting.
RA has failed to secure a new broadcast deal and it has left the code in Australia facing insolvency.
As revealed by The Australian last weekend, the game owes more than just $9.4m than disclosed by RA. It is understood debts have increased to around $16m with bills yet to be paid in full.
Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, who acted for Rugby Australia in their long-running battle with Folau, is awaiting payment of more than $1m for their services.
RA also does not have a broadcast deal.
It is hoping for a rescue package from World Rugby in the order of $16m. The COVID-19 pandemic sees RA facing a $120m financial black hole.
RA are required to submit audited accounts to the Australian Securities Investments Commission (ASIC) by the end of the month.
Pre-COVID-19 the Wallabies were seventh in the world with declining TV ratings and crowds.
While former players have voiced their concerns, the current playing group have also called for transformation in the game.
After agreeing to a 60 per cent pay cut on Monday, Rugby Union Players Association boss Justin Harrison called for immediate attention to be turned to the long-term sustainability of the game and said there was a need for transformation.
George Gregan and Phil Kearns are among the captains who signed the letter
Eleven former Wallabies captains have co-signed a letter calling for the current Rugby Australia leadership to stand aside to allow the ailing game to be transformed.
Rugby Australia interim chair Paul McLean has seen the letter.
In an unprecedented move, some of Australias most decorated captains including Nick Farr-Jones, George Gregan and Michael Lynagh have co-signed the letter calling for financial transparency and leadership change.
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The extraordinary letter obtained exclusively by The Australian is signed by Farr-Jones, Gregan, Lynagh, Simon Poidevin, Phil Kearns, Rod McCall, Jason Little, Nathan Sharpe, Stirling Mortlock, George Smith and Stephen Moore
The Wallabies skippers were moved by the dire state of the game, which is facing insolvency.
The letter reads:
READ MORE:Rugbys reset could bring an end to Hoopers reign|Keys to the code in young hands|RA crisis is yet to scare off Rennie|The sport that is guilty of all seven deadly sins|Rugby community must storm the Bastille and take control of their gameAs Wallaby Captains we feel privileged to have represented our country and led our respective teams into battle, facing difficult situations together.
We lost some but we won many. Win or lose, every time we pulled on the gold jersey we were driven by the desire to earn the respect of Australian supporters across the country and around the world. We wanted them to be proud of Australian rugby and what Australian rugby stood for.
In recent times, the Australian game has lost its way. It is a defeat inflicted not by COVID-19, or an on-field foe, but rather by poor administration and leadership over a number of years.
Our rural clubs, junior clubs, subdistricts and community clubs have been let down and we firmly believe transformation is needed across the game in this country. Theres no time to waste.
We speak as one voice when we say Australian rugby needs new vision, leadership and a plan for the future. That plan must involve, as a priority, urgent steps to create a much-needed sustainable, commercial rugby business.
No doubt there are now good people with good ideas and we must include them in the renewal. There has also been considerable work done in the background to quickly establish a list of urgent initiatives and action items.
A number of highly experienced rugby and business leaders are standing by to mentor and lead.
The captains say the game deserves a brighter future.
Our schools and clubs are populated with an army of amazing mums and dads and volunteers, and players of all shapes and sizes, who must have a game run for them.
Our youth deserve to be inspired. They need to see a pathway and to feel a connection with the Wallaby jersey.
It is with this in mind we ask the current administration to heed our call and stand aside to allow the game to be transformed so we emerge from this pandemic with a renewed sense of unity and purpose.
There is only one question that needs to be answered at club level, at state level and at national level: Is this decision in the best interests of Australian rugby?
Only when we can answer that question openly, honestly and transparently at all levels can we restore Australian Rugby to greatness.
The captains letter comes just weeks after Rugby Australia recorded a $9.4 million loss in their unaudited 2019 report, while giving themselves a 72 per cent on an internal scorecard and with CEO Raelene Castle in line to receive a $114,000 performance bonus.
The letter also calls for:
The release of the numerous reviews into Australian Rugby and the establishment of a cabinet to implement the best recommendations from those reviews.
The convening of a Special General Meeting, no later than April 30, 2020, to table the 2019 annual accounts and any other business put before that meeting.
RA has failed to secure a new broadcast deal and it has left the code in Australia facing insolvency.
As revealed by The Australian last weekend, the game owes more than just $9.4m than disclosed by RA. It is understood debts have increased to around $16m with bills yet to be paid in full.
Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills, who acted for Rugby Australia in their long-running battle with Folau, is awaiting payment of more than $1m for their services.
RA also does not have a broadcast deal.
It is hoping for a rescue package from World Rugby in the order of $16m. The COVID-19 pandemic sees RA facing a $120m financial black hole.
RA are required to submit audited accounts to the Australian Securities Investments Commission (ASIC) by the end of the month.
Pre-COVID-19 the Wallabies were seventh in the world with declining TV ratings and crowds.
While former players have voiced their concerns, the current playing group have also called for transformation in the game.
After agreeing to a 60 per cent pay cut on Monday, Rugby Union Players Association boss Justin Harrison called for immediate attention to be turned to the long-term sustainability of the game and said there was a need for transformation.