May
Legal action vowed against Rugby Australia after Melbourne Rebels axed
Troubled rugby union club Melbourne Rebels has been shut down after 14 seasons.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing and Zoe Samios
Labor’s controversial sports broadcast plans heading for Senate fracas
The government’s proposal, which would allow big streamers like Netflix to bid against free, local platforms, is “un-Australian”, according to the Greens.
- Zoe Samios
Melbourne Rebels survive but fight with ATO, Rugby Australia not over
Former Melbourne Rebels director Georgia Widdup said the decision meant plans for a “financially sustainable future” could progress.
- Zoe Samios
April
Agents orange: inside parliament’s battle of the hall passes
Crossbenchers are the focus of everyone with a stake in contentious legislation. No wonder David Pocock has had enough.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
March
- Exclusive
- Investment banking
Rugby Australia’s Pip Marlow joins Bank of America board
The former Microsoft and Salesforce boss has become an adviser to the US investment bank’s local business, joining Megan Clark and Kevin Skelton.
- Aaron Weinman
- Updated
- Business of sport
Wallabies’ World Cup campaign blew budget by $2.6m as staff splurged
Rugby Australia’s review into the performance identifies poor culture and a lack of trust. Its CEO, Phil Waugh, says personnel changes had already been made.
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- Zoe Samios
February
Melbourne Rebels CEO departs as PwC begins cuts
Administrators, who took control of the Victorian rugby union club in late January, made a number of staff members redundant.
- Zoe Samios
Rugby Australia boss rejects Rebels’ tax, underfunding claims
Phil Waugh pushed back at suggestions Rugby Australia was to blame for the Rebels’ demise and said it was not trying to destroy its club competition.
- Zoe Samios
How to maul a rugby team to death: slowly at first and then suddenly
Melbourne’s only Super Rugby team, the Rebels, say they were as challenged as every other team in the competition. But their problems were far more complicated.
- Zoe Samios and Jessica Sier
January
- Updated
- Business of sport
Rebels chairman Paul Docherty steps down as administrators called in
The embattled Melbourne Super Rugby club has debts of more than $10 million, with Rugby Australia stepping in to take over the franchise.
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- Zoe Samios, Gus McCubbing and Jessica Sier
December 2023
‘Virus of madness’ infected views on Lehrmann: lawyer
Bruce Lehrmann’s rights to a presumption of innocence or a fair trial were discarded thanks to a ‘virus’ that swept through media organisations and politicians, his lawyers say. Follow updates live.
- Updated
- Gus McCubbing
Hamish McLennan confronts rugby’s biggest lie
Coach Eddie Jones always denied there were plans to ditch the Wallabies. Events seem primed to blow up in the faces of Rugby Australia, including the board.
- Mark Di Stefano
November 2023
Hamish McLennan puts on the boxing gloves and hopes for a soft landing
Despite simmering public criticism and the Rugby Australia dispute, the executive remains among the country’s most influential corporate players.
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- Jemima Whyte
Inside the Zoom board meetings which flipped rugby on its back
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan is gone, and he’s made sure everyone knows it. But where to from here?
- Zoe Samios and Mark Di Stefano
Harvey Norman terminates rugby sponsorship deal
Chief executive Katie Page says the decision to end a three-year partnership with Rugby Australia was simply a case of “bad timing”.
- Zoe Samios
Ares, Pacific Equity Partners line up for Rugby Australia debt
Negotiations with credit providers are entering extra time as the code looks for $60 million.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
- Updated
- Australian rugby
New Rugby boss Dan Herbert says ‘everyone recognises’ game is broken
But deposed chairman Hamish McLennan, who was ousted in a boardroom coup on Sunday, has warned his exit will lead to “more division ... not less”.
- Updated
- Kylar Loussikian and Zoe Samios
- Updated
- Business of sport
Hamish McLennan out of Rugby Australia after late night board meeting
Rugby executives from several states including Queensland had demanded his resignation and were preparing to call an extraordinary general meeting.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios
Nicola Forrest was onside with Hamish McLennan in St Tropez
The separated wife of Andrew Forrest threw her lot in with the embattled Rugby Australia chairman, fighting an insurrection from state rugby associations.
- Updated
- Mark Di Stefano
- Updated
- Business of sport
Future of Rugby chair in balance after emergency board meeting
But Hamish McLennan says the state unions that want him out are self-interested and waging a “grubby” smear campaign.
- Updated
- Zoe Samios