Hamish McLennan ousted in Rugby Australia boardroom coup

Rugby Australia’s chairman has been replaced by former Wallaby Dan Herbert in the aftermath of the Wallabies’ disastrous World Cup campaign.

Ousted chairman Hamish McLennan was offered a position on the Rugby Australia board but declined Picture: John Feder/The Australian.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has been replaced by former Wallaby Dan Herbert.

The board gathered to vote on Sunday night – it’s fourth meeting in 48 hours – and Herbert won out over McLennan to take the position of chair.

The crisis was triggered after six state unions on Friday called McLennan’s behaviour “arrogant” and demanded he resign as they rallied in opposition to RA’s plan to centralise the administration and high performance programs following the Wallabies’ disastrous World Cup campaign.

McLennan was offered the chance to remain on the board but the businessman declined.

“Best of luck everyone,” McLennan told The Australian. “What a shame.”

McLennan said the states and board move to axe him has been a “massive win” for rival code the NRL.

He also said the “grubby” smear campaign in the weeks leading up to his exit also “won the battle”.

QRU chair Brett Clark led a campaign on behalf of six states to oust McLennan who labelled the RA chair’s leadership “arrogant”.

“The grubby smear campaign won this battle,” McLennan said. “And the big winner is the NRL”.

New Rugby Australia chair Dan Herbert. Picture: Glenn Hampson

McLennan had worked hard to recruit NRL star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii away from Sydney Roosters and has often traded barbs with league boss Peter V’landys.

It is understood Suaalii deal could now be in jeopardy while a key sponsor is also concerned by McLennan’s axing.

On Sunday night McLennan said he was proud of the deals he had achieved during his three year tenure.

“I’m really proud of staving off bankruptcy, doing the Ares loan, striking a broadcast deal, getting Cadbury and Harvey Norman and paying the Wallaroos for the first time and getting Joseph Suaalii. That young man will fill stadiums,” McLennan said. “Also the Rugby World Cups in ‘27 and ‘29 will be transformative “

“Most of all I’m thrilled to spend more time with my legendary wife Lucinda and (adult children) Olivia and Ted”.

He added: “It’s all good and nobody died”.

The heat was dialled up on McLennan following a World Cup campaign where the Wallabies failed to make it out of the group stage for the first time. Wallabies coach Eddie Jones resigned shortly after.

McLennan, who recruited Jones with the backing of the RA board, came under pressure for moving on Dave Rennie in favour of the experienced coach.

During the World Cup McLennan was accused of “partying in Paris” which he emphatically denied.

The embattled chair had received support from billionaire Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest and Nicola Forrest, Olympic boss John Coates and former prime minister John Howard but to no avail.

Rugby Australia in a statement late on Sunday night released a statement as to why the board backed Herbert over McLennan.

“The board considered that Herbert’s experience is ideally suited to leading the development of the game from the grassroots to the elite level, across women’s and men’s Rugby,” a statement from RA read.

“In addition, he is well placed to lead the board’s continued and unwavering commitment to Rugby Australia’s strategy of aligning the game across the country.”

Herbert played 67 Tests for Australia, and was a part of the Wallabies teams that won the 1999 Rugby World Cup, 2001 British and Irish Lions Series, The Rugby Championship and five straight Bledisloe Cups.