Rugby Australia crisis: Unions speak out as ‘distraction’ Hamish McLennan ousted as chairman

Sacked chairman Hamish McLennan was offered a chance to stay on the Rugby Australia board – but after being told he’d become a ‘distraction’, he opted to quit altogether.

Hamish McLennan was ousted as chairman of Rugby Australia in a late-night meeting on Sunday. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The six unions who had called for the sacking of Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan said he’d become a “distraction to the game”, but thanked him for his service after he was ousted on Sunday night.

McLennan was replaced by Daniel Herbert as RA chairman, and immediately resigned from the board.

The six unions who had demanded McLennan’s resignation with a no-confidence letter on Friday night – the ACT and Southern NSW, Queensland, West Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmanian rugby unions – said his decision to depart rugby was the right call.

“Mr McLennan has always acted in what he genuinely believed was in the best interests of our game, and his resignation today is a demonstration of this,” a joint statement said.

“It is an honourable decision that recognises his continued service had become a distraction to the game.

Hamish McLennan was ousted as chairman of Rugby Australia in a late-night meeting on Sunday. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“Mr McLennan cannot be faulted for his energy or devotion to rugby, nor his tireless efforts for the game.

“In particular, his efforts during the Covid pandemic helped secure the game’s future during its darkest hour.

“The Member Unions remain committed to working with Rugby Australia’s new Chair Dan Herbert and Chief Executive Officer Phil Waugh on their plans for high-performance centralisation.”

HOW WE LED THE CHARGE: Alan Jones on why McLennan, Jones had to go

McLennan said he believed the move was a play from the state unions about “money and control”.

“I think this is all about money and control at the end of the day, so we’ll see how it plays out. I just think there’s no doubt there’s been a co-ordinated campaign to smear me,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Monday morning.

“The results of the World Cup were pretty poor, but I think we’ve got to look at the underlying reasons and the fact is the system’s broken, and we’ve got to fix it.”

Herbert was elevated after the board held a late-night vote to sack McLennan late on Sunday.

Herbert won the majority of the votes, ending the controversial tenure of McLennan, who has now quit the game entirely.

McLennan was removed as chairman but was offered the chance to remain on the RA board, however he made the decision to quit altogether.

McLennan (L) oversaw a period of significant change for Rugby Australia, including the introduction of former Wallaby Phil Waugh as the new CEO. Picture: Getty

Having overseen a number of crucial moves in the game, including staving off bankruptcy following the Covid crisis, it’s understood McLennan was unwilling to continue working alongside powerbrokers who had orchestrated his downfall.

The dramatic change occurred just 48 hours after six member states had called for McLennan’s resignation on Friday night, citing no confidence in his leadership.

Herbert played 67 Tests for the Wallabies, won the World Cup in 1999, the same year he was voted World Player of the Year.

Daniel Herbert played 67 Tests for the Wallabies.

Post playing career, he transitioned into a successful corporate figure with sportswear brand Skins, the Queensland Reds, and as the chief executive of a property firm.

“It has never been more important for the Rugby Australia board, working with member unions, to come together and execute the reform we absolutely need for an aligned high-performance system and to deliver on the commitments we have made, including to invest in community and women’s rugby,” Herbert said.

“Australia will host the British and Irish Lions Tour in 2025, the men’s 2027 Rugby World Cup and the women’s 2029 Rugby World Cup and the 2032 Olympic Games – the reform we progress now will underpin the competitiveness of our national teams, as well as building deeper engagement with the Rugby community and fans everywhere.

“We note that the different member unions are not opposing Rugby Australia’s centralisation proposals and remain committed to supporting high performance alignment.”

Herbert on the burst in his playing days. Picture: AAP

Herbert transitioned into a successful corporate figure

In an interview with Greg Layton on leadership last year, Herbert said: “You need to influence the right people. You’re never going to please everyone; I’ve never pleased all ends of the spectrum and I don’t lose sleep about that.

“But the ones that I need to influence, I make sure I spend time with them. I don’t worry about people who are critical or small-minded who aren’t going to influence anything. I spend my time on those who are positive and can influence and shape the direction we are going.”

McLennan had been relaxed about the extraordinary development when contacted on Sunday before the vote, saying: “Yes, it’s been leaked that there’s a vote at 8pm tonight.

“Let’s see what happens. Will the RA board stand up to a few states?”

McLennan had been relaxed leading into the extraordinary vote. Picture: AFP

Queensland, ACT, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia and Northern Territory came together to demand McLennan’s resignation on Friday night in an unprecedented move.

They published a lengthy letter criticising McLennan’s influence and actions at RA, including his “captain’s pick” to hire Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach, and sign NRL star Joseph Suaalii to a record $5.3 million deal from 2025.

However, McLennan had received support from NSW, Melbourne and Western Force owner Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest.

The move to oust McLennan ends a tumultuous three-year tenure in rugby.

He joined as chair of RA in May 2020, and managed to secure the 2027 World Cup for Australia.

But his decision to sack Dave Rennie as Wallabies coach in January in favour of Jones, and signing of Suaalii on such a rich deal, irked some stakeholders.

The Wallabies’ worst-ever showing at a World Cup, when they were dumped in the pool stages, after which Jones resigned as coach amid links to the Japan head coaching role, increased pressure on McLennan.

RA’s failure to secure private equity funding was also used as leverage to lampoon McLennan.

The code is in significant debt, requiring $90 million to stay afloat, and it now rests of former Wallabies teammates Herbert and Phil Waugh – RA’s chief executive – to arrest the financial freefall.

Originally published as Rugby Australia crisis: Unions speak out as ‘distraction’ Hamish McLennan ousted as chairman