‘Right time to move on’: Marinos resigns amid strained relationship with McLennan

Rugby Australia is on the hunt for a new chief executive after Andy Marinos tendered his resignation amid claims of a deteriorating relationship with chairman Hamish McLennan.

It comes as former Wallabies captain and RA board member Phil Waugh emerged as a leading candidate to take over when Marinos leaves the organisation in mid-June.

As revealed by this masthead on Monday afternoon, Marinos has decided to end his stint as boss of Australian rugby after less than two-and-a-half years in charge. Marinos informed McLennan and other RA officials last week of his intention to step down, before an announcement on Monday.

“Andy Marinos has decided to leave his role in the coming weeks to pursue new opportunities,” RA said in a statement.

Sources with knowledge of the situation, speaking to this masthead on the condition of anonymity, said that Marinos and McLennan had not seen eye-to-eye for some time in a work capacity.

Marinos, who did not elaborate on his decision beyond a statement in an RA press release, has had a strained relationship with McLennan.

Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos.Credit: Getty

The pair sat side-by-side at RA headquarters last week to announce an $8.2 million profit for 2022, with McLennan singing Marinos’ praises for the code’s improved financial position. However, there have been whispers that the pair have not been seeing eye to eye for some time.

McLennan stressed that the CEO had resigned.

The uneasy CEO-chairman relationship was no secret in rugby circles, with multiple sources confirming to this masthead that it contributed to Marinos’ decision to leave his role. McLennan and Marinos will meet in Paris later this week for SANZAAR meetings.

“It’s all good,” McLennan told this masthead. “Andy and I are in Paris at the end of the week and we’ll have a seamless transition. He’ll be around for a while. He’s done a great job for us.”

In an earlier statement, McLennan praised Marinos for his stewardship of the code.

“We asked Andy to draw upon his impressive career experience and extensive global relationships to re-establish rugby as a leading code in Australia – he has delivered on this and been fundamental in the turnaround of the business,” McLennan said.

“Andy will leave RA having delivered several key projects, including the finalisation of the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups, locking in the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour, planning for a new contracting model for the professional game, implementation of strategy to professionalise Women’s XVs rugby, and a new four-year collective bargaining agreement for our professional men’s and women’s players.”

In a statement, Marinos said he felt it was the right time to leave the organisation.

“I cannot overstate the commitment and incredible work ethic of the people around me at RA and the roles they have played in helping drive some critical structural changes for rugby in this country,” Marinos said.

“The foundations have been established and the business is now well-prepared to test the market for private equity investment, making it the right time for me to move on. Importantly, I will leave with the knowledge that RA is in a stronger position than when I joined, and proud of what has been achieved in my tenure as CEO.”

The timing has raised eyebrows in rugby circles, particularly given the Rugby World Cup begins in September and a likely private equity deal is set to come to fruition in coming months.

Some RA officials said Marinos had left on his own accord. Last month, Marinos denied rumours he was set to leave RA.

McLennan is a hands-on chairman who did most of the heavy lifting when it came to hiring Eddie Jones as Wallabies coach. Marinos was still in South Africa when he and Waugh delivered the news to Dave Rennie that he had been sacked as Wallabies coach, effective immediately.

RA will begin a search for a new boss immediately and have decided against appointing an interim CEO, for now.

McLennan is a fan of Waugh and regularly seeks advice on rugby matters from the 79-Test Wallaby, who is on the RA board. Waugh did not return calls on Monday, but sources close to him say he is interested in the role.

Another former Wallaby, Phil Kearns, could apply for the role he was beaten to by Raelene Castle in 2017.

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