States nominate 10 candidates to fill three Rugby Australia board positions
The turmoil involving Rugby Australia is showing no signs of slowing, with states backing a big push to overhaul the board.
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Mass change to the Rugby Australia board is looming, with concerned provinces banding together to form a list of new candidates for consideration at the March 30 annual general meeting.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that a list of 10 candidates has already been drawn up, despite there being only three board positions to be filled at the AGM.
The plan to overhaul the board comes amid intense scrutiny of RA’s governance over the broadcast deal, the handling of Israel Folau’s sacking and $3 million payout last year, diminishing crowds, as well as pre-existing angst over the Western Force axing in 2017.
A full spill is unlikely at this stage, the architects of the plan said confidentially, however they are seeking numerous changes to the current regime that will likely see other directors forced to stand aside.
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The states are extremely worried about the ongoing broadcast deal negotiations, and want the new chairman – to be appointed at the AGM – to be directly involved in the deal alongside their chosen directors.
RA had hoped to finalise a new broadcast deal, for 2021-25, before that AGM but it’s looking increasingly likely that the time frame will need to change given they have no offers to date.
The broadcast deal will be crucial to funding the future of the game, and state powerbrokers say it would be “a travesty” if a new chairman and board members were forced to inherit a deal they had no control over.
Paul McLean is the interim chairman of the board, replacing Cameron Clyne who will step down from duties at the AGM, alongside fellow long-serving director Brett Robinson. Ann Sherry previously left the board and her position has not been filled, so those three seats are in play.
However, there will be a submission to RA’s nominations committee – made up of McLean, Marc L’Huillier, Darryl McDonough and John Sharp – to consider all of the provinces’ candidates by the end of next week.
All nominations will be made public on March 9, three weeks before the AGM.
The states want the new chairman to be able to remove existing directors and insert new ones if he/she believes that deliver the best outcome for the game, particularly in relation to the broadcast deal.
There is confidence among these stakeholders that should targeted directors refuse to stand down, they’ll have the numbers to vote them out.
The other RA board members are chief executive Raelene Castle, Pip Marlow, Hayden Rorke, Phil Waugh and John Wilson.
The only way to avoid the bloodshed at the AGM is if Castle can secure a game-changing broadcast deal within the next fortnight that can fill the coffers of the states and regenerate Australian rugby.