ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
REGISTER
LOGIN
ADVERTISEMENT
RugbyDump
Thursday Apr 23, 2020

'The game is bigger than any one individual' - Rugby Australia CEO on resignation

Embattled Rugby Australia chief executive officer Raelene Castle has resigned after being told she had lost the support of the board. Castle brought to an end her tumultuous 2-1/2 year reign today, handing in her resignation to RA chairman Paul McLean.

ADVERTISEMENT

In a statement provided to the ABC, Castle said she was told RA needed “clear air”.

“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,” Castle said.

“In the last couple of hours, it has been made clear to me that the board believes my no longer being 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 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.”

Castle’s tenure came under growing pressure this week when a group of 10 former Wallabies led by World Cup-winning captain Nick Farr-Jones signed a letter calling for a change in RA’s administration.

ADVERTISEMENT

Castle met with Super Rugby chief executives on Thursday morning to plot their way through the coronavirus and gave no hint she believed her time in the role was up.

She was however a late withdrawal from a meeting with the state chairmen to go over RA’s 2019 balance sheet and financial position.

A tumultuous final year in charge included a costly legal battle following the sacking of superstar Israel Folau, a poor World Cup performance and failure to reach agreement for a broadcast deal.

Castle completed an interview with ABC TV prior to her resignation and said then that she believed David Rennie would honour his contract to coach the Wallabies regardless of her situation.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Ultimately he knows that things can change and I know he has a desperate desire to coach the Wallabies. He’s done a lot of work and he’s excited about the young talent coming through,” she said.

“He will come here regardless of where I sit.”

Rugby Australia has yet to comment.

RELATED VIDEO:

Video Spacer

Related Articles

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Ellis Genge puts on his boxing gloves ready...

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Crazy scenes as player deliberately kicks...

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    RFU make decision on transgender players...



ADVERTISEMENT

Great Tries

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Springbok winger with the most athletic non-try of the season

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Jack Crowley drops the ball on dime for brilliant Munster try in URC Final

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    WATCH: World class offload from James O’Connor Leads To Long Range Reds Try

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Leinster up and running with two incredible tries inside the first five minutes

  • 4 WEEKS AGO

    Chiefs Score The “Best Team Try” In Super Rugby History

View All

Big Hits & Dirty Play

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Marcos Kremer shown red card for reckless shot on Finn Russell

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    Heroic tackle from Spanish 7s player goes viral

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    No sanction handed down by SANZAAR for tackle that left Reds player with a fractured neck

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Watch: Cheslin Kolbe Dominates Sebastian Cancelliere with back-to-back big tackles

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    Ben Curry's World Cup hopes dashed as he becomes the latest victim of the crocodile roll

View All

See It To Believe It

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Barbarians Vs World XV highlights

  • 8 WEEKS AGO

    Silly Skill From Toulouse Fullback Highlights French Confidence

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    Ardie Savea Moment Of Magic In Super Rugby Aotearoa

  • 15 WEEKS AGO

    'Armchair athletes' berate Arundell's seriously impressive bench press

  • 16 WEEKS AGO

    Worcester Warriors - The End

View All

Funnies

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    "Hey Manie oh ah I wanna know if I can block that kick" – Munster's hilarious new song

  • 6 DAYS AGO

    Munster Rugby loving life in Cape Town Following URC Final Victory

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: La Rochelle Players Gate Crash O’Gara Interview

  • 2 WEEKS AGO

    WATCH: Stade Rochelais Coaches With All-Time Coaches Box Celebration

View All

Amateur

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    You Won’t See Many Better Than This Silky-Smooth Try From Llandovery RFC

  • 21 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes As Caldy RFC Hand Ealing First Championship Defeat Of The Season

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Dubious Score Decides Result Of Rugby's Biggest Schools Fixture

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    Incredible Scenes At School Boys Rugby Match

  • 44 WEEKS AGO

    The Next Dominant Backrow?

View All

Player Features

  • 1 DAY AGO

    Horrific footage has emerged of Mohamed Haouas attack on wife

  • 2 DAYS AGO

    Mack Hansen gets Andy Farrell’s face tattooed on leg

  • 4 DAYS AGO

    French international receives prison sentence for attack on wife

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    John Afoa breaks record on return to Super Rugby

  • 1 WEEK AGO

    Harry Potter to ‘disapparate’ to Australia

View All