Failed Rugby Australia board must reset, says Roger Davis

The Rugby Australia board should consider their positions after failing the game says a veteran rugby administrator.

Former NSW Waratahs chairman Roger Davis says the Rugby Australia board has failed.

Experienced rugby administrator Roger Davis has called for an overhaul of the Rugby Australia board for its systemic failures following the boardroom coup that led to the ousting of high-profile chairman Hamish McLennan.

Davis, who had a 12-year stint on the NSW Rugby Union board including nine as chairman, has called for a “reset and refresh” and believes “culpable” directors should consider standing aside.

“I think there should be a refresh of the board; I mean, they’re not all going to resign,” Davis told The Australian. “It’s impractical, but there should be a reset and a refresh so that the board is what you call ‘fit for purpose’, given the challenges that we face.

“And, ultimately, the board is responsible for the management of the game and in that, I think you’d have to say they failed financially, failed performance-wise, failed in terms of reputation. I mean, you could go through any number of KPIs.

Former Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan was ousted in a boardroom coup on Sunday night Picture: John Feder

“I’m a supporter of the argument that is probably a little rich to blame Hamish for all of this – he is the top of the triangle, but I think others should have a good look at themselves and then work out whether to what extent they’ve been culpable.” Davis’s comments follow a turbulent week for Rugby Australia after McLennan was brought down by Queensland Rugby Union chairman Brett Clark, who successfully led a group of states to call for his axing. On Sunday night, McLennan was replaced by current director and former Wallaby Dan Herbert, after the board unanimously voted him in as chairman.

The heat had been on McLennan for his leadership style, with him bearing the brunt of the criticism for the now controversial recruitment of coach Eddie Jones, who oversaw Australia’s worst result at a World Cup. However, The Australian understands it was openly discussed at board level that the Jones appointment was “wholly approved” by the board, made up of Herbert, Phil Waugh, Pip Marlow, Brett Godfrey, Dr Jane Wilson, Matthew Hanning, Karen Penrose and Joe Roff, who does not have a vote.

Davis, who oversaw the Waratahs during their most successful years, does believe the game should consider an AFL-style commission to transform its governance – and consider a mix of both independent and member union directors.

“I think a simple fix would be to have direct representation from the member unions – complemented by independent directors – say 10 directors in total,” he said. “That’s the way NSW is run and it runs well. The AFL, NRL probably have a better governance structure than we do and I think we should look at that and not be a copycat, but to work out what works well in that model and how that should be applied.

“Because you know, clearly there are tensions here. Look, things couldn’t get any worse. So maybe now’s the time to sort of make some bold decisions and see what’s going to happen going forward. All these changes would take time.”

However, Davis believes as it stands, the states unions will not cede completely to centralisation, where Rugby Australia would have the most power.

“I’m heartened by the initial comments that Daniel Herbert’s coming out about being more inclusive and less autocratic in the way that integration is being talked about,” he said. “And I think there are some easy wins there that you can get. But the states are never going to cede full authority to the centre. It’s a matter of balance, I guess.

“We bandy this integration, centralisation word around. I don’t think it’s a panacea for our problems.”

Despite the boardroom chaos, Davis is optimistic about rugby’s future. “... below the part of the iceberg that is out of the water, club rugby is very strong,” he said. “Participation is strong, there is great talent coming through … .”