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Four former Wallabies captains, including double World Cup winner John Eales, have spoken out against a call by their counterparts to reform Rugby Australia’s leadership, local media reported Thursday.
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A letter, allegedly signed by 11 Wallabies captains, including Nick Farr-Jones, George Gregan and Phil Kearns, was distributed earlier this week saying that the governing body was in crisis and that the game had “lost its way.”
But on Thursday one of the signatories, Michael Lynagh, saying The Australian He had requested that his name be removed from the letter as he had not been fully informed of its content.
“This is not the way I do things and I have withdrawn from everything,” he told the newspaper.
“It doesn’t mean I don’t support the change, but I had some questions about what they were proposing.
“(RA) now has a new president and three new board members. They must be allowed to implement the change.”
the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Wallabies, the great Eales, who won the Rugby World Cup in 1991 and led the team to a second victory in 1999, joined the former Test captain Mark Loane and former president of Rugby Australia Tony shaw to support current Acting President Paul McLean.
“We all recognize that rugby is going through a very difficult period,” Eales told the newspaper.
“I did not sign the letter because I felt it was better to act directly on the concerns, as a group, with the president, as he is already implementing considerable change.”
“What I know is that there are good people at all levels of rugby who work hard to solve complex problems.”
Shaw, who told SMH that he had not approached him to sign the letter, said his release had left him “stunned.”
“Why put it in the public domain when you have a president, who was a captain, like you, who did all the work in rugby known to man, from player, captain, coach, manager and president, and worked hard to work. through the consequences of the pandemic in a short period of time, “he said.
The Wallabies are languishing in seventh place in the world rugby rankings, and the game Down Under faces fierce competition from other sports that are increasingly gaining popularity with a wider audience.
Rugby Australia was already suffering financially before the Covid-19 crisis after agreeing on a multi-million dollar deal with star scorer Israel Folau, who was fired over homophobic remarks.
In their letter, the captains criticized Rugby Australia’s financial management and the lack of a viable long-term business plan.
The comments have increased pressure on current CEO Raelene Castle, who faces persistent rumors that she may be fired.
Rugby Australia said it “values the views” of the former captains and invited them to participate in the “current process to review the rugby landscape.”
