Rugby Australia chair Cameron Clyne quits but he’s not done yet
Cameron Clyne’s imminent departure as RA chairman opens door for nation’s top sports administrators.
Cameron Clyne will stand down as chairman of Rugby Australia after a tenure that will be remembered without fondness. But he’s not done yet.
Clyne is head of the nominations committee at RA, giving him a major role in choosing his own replacement. And he will still oversee the appointment of the next Wallabies coach. His successor will inherit that all-important decision, unable to start with a clean slate.
Four vacancies on the RA board are to be filled at the next AGM in March. Rugby insiders have revealed Wallaby greats Brett Papworth and Phil Kearns and television executive Jarrod Frykberg are among contenders for the empty seats. Some within rugby circles say RA should aim high for Clyne’s replacement, targeting the likes of proven sporting administrators David Gallop and Andrew Demetriou.
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Kearns was only narrowly beaten by Raelene Castle for the RA chief executive role. If she also falls on her sword, Kearns looms as the likely replacement.
The RA board is eating itself alive — to the rousing applause of supporters peeved by the Clyne-led slaughter of the Western Force and the decision to retain coach Michael Cheika when the writing was on the wall for a disastrous World Cup.
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The departing board members are Clyne; vice-chairman Brett Robinson, who is reaching the maximum allowed stint of nine years; Ann Sherry, who resigned in April but has not yet been replaced; and Paul McLean, who is understood to be standing down after six years at the table.
Cheika’s gone, hoisted by his own petard. Umpteen Wallabies players have done their dash in the national jersey due to their post-World Cup retirements or lucrative overseas contracts.
The next era will be unrecognisable from the last. Which is no bad thing. But having erred in his handling of the last coach, with whom he’s had no real relationship, and with whom he’s persisted when the writing has been on the wall for an underwhelming result in Japan, Clyne’s fingerprints will be all over the new mentor, most likely New Zealand’s Dave Rennie.
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His role on the nominations committee is in accordance with Sport Australia’s governance principles but on the common-sense level, what if the new chairman, and the new-look board, and the new-look playing squad, all disagree with the old board and chairman’s choice?
Clyne, the former NAB CEO who became RA chairman in 2015, was the face of the abolishment of the Force. His board stuck with Cheika through to the World Cup despite two years of grossly disappointing results in the lead-up.
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He’s eligible to seek another three-year term next year but the public backlash against the board has been impossible to ignore. He’s resorted to the tired old excuse of the media supposedly forcing his hand. The legal action brought by Israel Folau, and a review into the 2019 season, are ongoing.
“I have decided that I will not seek re-election when my term concludes at the Rugby Australia AGM in March next year,” Clyne said. “Notwithstanding the very painful decision to remove the Western Force from the Super Rugby competition and the mixed results of the Wallabies in recent years, there have been a number of achievements and positive advancements right across the game over the past four years.
“Female participation in rugby has tripled, we’ve seen enormous growth in Sevens participation on the back of the gold medal success of our women’s team, and against global trends in participation we have achieved growth in traditional XVs rugby in several states and territories.”
He added: “Unfortunately, recently, much of the focus of the media has been directed at myself, which has overshadowed a lot of great work that has been done and continues to be done at the community level through to the national level by our volunteers, administrators, players, coaches, and match officials across the country. It is hoped that with my resignation, the attention can return to where it rightfully should be, which is on the field and that this positive work will be highlighted.
“Over the next four months I, along with the rest of the board, remain committed to overseeing the delivery of a new broadcast deal, the appointment of a new Wallabies head coach, and the conclusion of the legal matter involving Israel Folau. During this time, the board will work with the member union chairs and the nominations committee to find a suitable replacement for my position on the board and I will aim to make a seamless transition from the role, with a replacement in place at the AGM.”
In consulting with the nominations committee, Clyne will be consulting with himself.
Eight Wallabies from the World Cup squad are as good as out the door. But their absences will create enormous opportunities for what everyone wants to see on the field. Fresh faces. Ditto for the board.
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