John O’Neill courted for key rugby role

The former Rugby Australia boss has been approached to take over as chairman of the struggling code.

John O'Neill led Australian rugby during its most suc­cessful period between 1995 and 2003, and again between 2007 and 2013. Picture: Jerad Williams

Former Rugby Australia boss John O’Neill has been approached to take over as chairman of the struggling code but is understood to be asking to pick his own CEO and board to get the game back on track and negotiate a new broadcast deal.

The movements come as Optus focuses on landing European football rights and Socceroos World Cup qualifiers ahead of rugby union rights under new CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin.

Rugby Australia is preparing to kick off negotiations with broadcasters for its new rights package, with a tender document due to be sent to broadcasters in mid-January outlining the auction process. While RA chief executive Raelene Castle previously walked away from a Foxtel offer believed to be worth around $20m for the domestic rugby rights, Foxtel is yet to decide whether to enter the new round of rugby rights negotiations.

READ MORE: Castle key to cut-price $3m deal for exited Folau | Game over for Raelene Castle, writes Alan Jones | Fears Folau payout could trigger Super Rugby club collapse

Last week Rugby Australia settled its long-running legal feud with Israel Folau in a multi-million-dollar settlement that could now accelerate the departure of chair Cameron Clyne.

While Clyne is set to step down in March at RA’s AGM, board members are understood to be pushing for an earlier departure, with both the Wallabies coach and the Folau issues resolved. It is understood several board ­members have approached ­former ARU chief executive and FFA boss O’Neill about returning to the game, which he led in ­Australian rugby’s most suc­cessful period between 1995 and 2003, and again between 2007 and 2013.

Several are also understood to be pushing for Castle to be replaced as CEO at the same time, with former Wallaby captain Phil Kearns consistently mentioned as a contender.

Those familiar with negotiations say O’Neill has made it clear he would only return if he were given the right to choose the CEO, the board and have no board elections for four years.

A similar approach was taken with former FFA boss Frank Lowy when he gave O’Neill the job of turning around the Football Federation Australia — leading to the most successful period in the Socceroos’ history.

When contacted, O’Neill declined to comment on any talks and whether he would take the chairmanship, but told The Australian the game needed to know “what it is selling”, and urged a more streamlined Super Rugby competition with only Australian, New Zealand and maybe a Japanese team.

“Could someone in the broader marketplace please tell us what the proposed competition will look like from 2021? Has any consideration been given to reforming Super Rugby as we know it as a tighter zone rugby competition that excludes South Africa and Argentina?” O’Neill said.

He also urged Rugby Australia to sit down and talk with billionaire Andrew Forrest about how his Rapid Rugby tournament could be incorporated into Super Rugby’s plans.

“Has anyone engaged Andrew Forrest to see what the options are for constitution of a new rugby competition and how his ‘Rapid Rugby’ competition could be compatible? The Wallabies winning 75 per cent of their matches is critical, but the game shopfront is Super Rugby, and this is the most competitive sports market in the world.”

Rugby officials are keen to find a free-to-air partner for Super Rugby but interest has been lukewarm after preliminary discussions with all broadcasters.

Meanwhile, The Australian understands Optus is on the verge of securing rights for three more European football competitions, believed to be the German, Spanish and Italian leagues, currently showing on BeIn sports.