Castle to open books for Super Rugby chairs as Lynagh baulks at captains' letter

Rugby Australia will open its books for the Super Rugby chairs on Thursday afternoon as prominent former Wallaby Michael Lynagh removed his name from a list of captains calling for the administration to step aside.

RA chief executive Raelene Castle and new director Peter Wiggs will offer the chairmen of NSW, Queensland, the Brumbies and Rebels a deep dive into RA's 2019 financial report and current cash position, which was not tabled at the organisation's AGM last month.

Michael Lynagh (centre) and Nick Farr-Jones (right). Credit: AJF Photography (Andrew Fraser)

It comes after weeks of appeals from the states, all of whom were angered that RA shared the information with the Rugby Union Players Association but would not hand over the unaudited report to them.

RA and RUPA signed a pay deal on Monday, in which the players agreed to take a 60 per cent salary cut until the end of September.

RA's attentions appear to have turned to its member unions, with Wiggs and Castle issuing the invitation on Wednesday.

It may be too little too late, with a number of the states already off side with Castle and the RA board over the lack of information.

It will also likely be overshadowed by ongoing fallout from the "state of Australian rugby" letter signed by 11 Wallabies captains this week.

It emerged on Wednesday night that Lynagh had asked for his signature to be taken off the list.

"This is not the way I do things and I have withdrawn from the whole thing," Lynagh told News Corp. "It doesn’t mean I don’t support the change but I had quite a few questions about what they were proposing. (Rugby Australia) now have a new chairman and three new board members. They have got to be allowed to implement change."

The remaining signatories are Simon Poidevin, Nick Farr-Jones, Phil Kearns, Rod McCall, Jason Little, George Gregan, Nathan Sharpe, Stirling Mortlock, George Smith and Stephen Moore.

They met with a group of current players on Wednesday morning and are drawing up a detailed strategy paper on their plans from here.

It is also believed that the group has received the in-principle backing of the Super Rugby chairs.

They face opposition from within their own ranks, however, with prominent former captains John Eales, Tony Shaw and Mark Loane backing embattled interim chairman Paul McLean.

Shaw said he was gobsmacked the captains did not give McLean, the board and Castle an opportunity to address their concerns behind closed doors, while Eales said he believed the administration was working hard in the best interests of the game.

"We all recognise that rugby is going through a very difficult period. I did not sign the letter because I felt it better to act on concerns directly, as a group, with the chairman, as he is already enacting considerable change," Eales said.

"What I know is that there are good people across all levels of rugby working hard to solve complex problems. Paul McLean is at the front of making that change and renewal. Everyone wants what's best for Australian rugby."

Shaw said change was happening before the captains' eyes, with three new directors (Wiggs, Brett Godfrey and Daniel Herbert) and a new chairman expected to take the reins in July.

"I'm surprised they didn't take the option to pick up the phone and set up a meeting behind closed doors," Shaw said.

"When Paul McLean steps down as interim chairman, which is happening soon, there will have been a 50 per cent turnover on the board, they've got new blood, including world-class businesspeople, and the front door is always open.

"It's my understanding that the board has met 20-odd times since the virus outbreak hit, so everyone there has been putting in considerable time and effort to get the game through. Paul McLean would have been ready to brief them."