One former Wallaby skipper replaced another on the Australian Rugby Union Board on Tuesday, with former flyhalf Paul McLean stepping in while George Gregan moved aside.
Gregan, the Wallabies most capped player with 139 appearances, has served as a board members since April 2012 but stepped down to focus on his business ventures and other roles in the game.
It was only one of three changes announced following Tuesday’s board meeting, with fellow board members John Mumm and General Peter Cosgrove announcing they will retire later this year.
Mumm will retire following the October board meeting, while Cosgrove will hold off until December – with the board approving the appointment of Cameron Clyne, the group chief executive of NAB, from December 1.
The changes follow the approval of the new Australian Rugby Constitution in late 2012.
A third director will be appointed before the end of the year.
“Paul McLean will be a terrific addition to our team. He brings the combination of strong commercial credentials from working in senior roles with a global real estate company and a Rugby pedigree which includes extensive experience as a player and administrator,” ARU chairman Michael Hawker said in a statement.
“…On behalf of the Board, I would like to acknowledge the significant contribution that George, John and Peter have made to the game in their capacity as board members.
“We look forward to their continued contribution to the game outside the Boardroom.”
simmo green
Guest
x 2 Congrats to Paul McLean, I had no idea he'd moved to Mosman
mikel
Guest
No no no - we don't want anybody of any calibre coming on board - we've just got rid of Australia's most capped player - and that took us 16 months!! Hmmm - Time to clear out the clutter - me thinks....
Blackheart
Guest
We send you decent players..... We send you decent coach.... Do you need a board member or two to reinvigorate your outfit?
Mike
Guest
Peter Cosgrove - apparently he's resigning from the ARU because likely to be next Governor-General or Governor of NSW. I mean, where is the man's sense of priorities???? :)
Short-Blind
Guest
I get what Johnno is saying despite having to apply the "I went to a private school' translation. The sorry fact is that the ARU, like CA (to a lesser degree) is an old boys club which has ignored grass roots development in key domestic areas. These guys collectively do not seem to have any vision as leaders beyond the status quo. Really poor leadership - if we don't get more of the young demographic interested & playing we are always going to be 4th choice footy code. How about getting some decent rugby on FTA so the 95% of people who don't have foxtel can actually see the game 1/7
Johnno
Guest
Well whatever else AFL has sweet talked to the elite private schools, as has soccer. Wow both footy codes are now ripping up the depth at these schools. But rugby league has missed out capturing some market share. In the 70's and 80's soccer didn't exist at these schools, just rugby in winter, some schools had 15 open teams.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Wait, so you are suggesting that the ARU shouldn't protect its own interests? Of course they should sweet talk, what ever that means, GPS Schools into playing only rugby! Why on earth would they want a more dominant and rival rugby code in their heart land?!?
Johnno
Guest
Well who says the ARU do not sweet talk the elite private schools into not having rugby. Remember the last 3 ceos all went to sydney GPS schools, and chairman Mick Hawker is ex-GPS too.
Jiggles
Roar Guru
Right, So private schools not having Rugby League as a co-curricular activity but having AFL as a co-curricular activity is something that is both the fault of the ARU and the responsibility of the ARU, therefore John Eales as an ARU Board Member? Step away from the keyboard.
Ads
Guest
Apart from roads, sanitation, what have the Romans ever done for us?
Justin3
Guest
And all that has what to do with the work they perform as part of their ARU role exactly?
Johnno
Guest
Ah tall poppy syndrome stuff, that's exactly what I mean. And working class leaguies with chips on there shoulder, I wonder why. Rugby union is played in just about every public school even though most don't have a team, only a few private schools have rugby league . Yet the elite private schools which I went to one of those so called elite private schools, allow AFL on the curriculum now but not rugby league. Where is the fairness in that. And Eales articles are articulate, but the topics of where he is coming from, sorry I dinned them a bit pompous, and he never deals with issues about expansion of rugby, or even promote it, and his articles always have an element that he thinks all of Australia is tuning into rugby, which could not be further from the truth. But he always rambles on about the positives without ever talking about the business side of the game, and expanding rugby to a wider audience or a working class audience. And Eales being and ARU board member should be stronger in his critiquing of OZ rugby.
Zero Gain
Guest
What have you done, 'Johnno', except carp and moan? These guys have made a massive contribution to our game. Private school envy, mate?
Crashy
Guest
So Johnno, Eales pens articulate pieces in the AFR and you bag him because he doesnt sound working-class enough?? If you think working class rhetoric is the secret to a sport's success just look st some of the league 'journos' there re. They have such massive chips on their shoulders about the world that I'm surprised they can stand up. Leave the tall poppy syndrome to the idiots of the world.
stainlesssteve
Guest
Whatever shut him up? A shrinking violet Gregan? You've made my day
Johnno
Guest
Eales and Gregan never did much. Eales is still on the board. They never publicly promote stuff like expansion of the game of rugby to new markets in OZ. John Eales articles he writes sometimes, are so out of private school style, not a hint of working class rhetoric. He nerve talks about promoting the game to wider audience in OZ, and talks in the tone that everyone in OZ, is in touch with the wallabies and finds them relevant, which could not be further from the truth. Gregan never was outspoken, hopefully Paul Maclean can be more vocal about the problems in OZ rugby.
Lazza
Guest
Thank the rugby gods!!! Gregan has stepped down. No wonder the wallabies have had a terrible attitude over the last few years.. Hopefully that will change. Paul Maclean a living Aussie legend!
Gary Russell-Sharam
Guest
Musical chairs