Rugby Australia have unveiled Raelene Castle as their new Chief Executive on Tuesday afternoon, with Castle taking over from Bill Pulver and making history in the process.
It’s understood Castle was picked from a pool of 100 applicants, which was whittled down to just three in recent weeks. Former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns was believed to be the other frontrunner for the position.
Rugby Australia Chairman, Cameron Clyne said Castle was a standout from the list of candidates.
“Raelene is an extremely impressive executive who covered every base as far as what the Board was looking for in a Chief Executive Officer to lead our game into an important new chapter, said Clyne.
“She offers an incredible wealth of experience in sports administration and business, with an outstanding track record in commercial, marketing and communications roles.”
Castle becomes the first female boss of any Australian national football code, completing the move after spending four years as CEO of the Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL. She resigned from that role in May of this year, stepping down at the end of the NRL season.
She made history in that role as well, becoming the first woman to run a football club in Australia.
Castle had a bitter end at the Bulldogs though, the club crashing to miss the finals and coach Des Hasler being re-signed for two years before being fired later at the end of the season, leading to legal proceedings.
Before her time at the Bulldogs, Castle spent six years in charge of Netball New Zealand. The crowning legacy from her run in charge across the ditch was the Trans-Tasman Netball competition which gathered heavy support, although the competition is now defunct.
Clyne said Castle could bring a fresh vision to Rugby Australia and new what would be required.
“Through her most recent roles as CEO of the Bulldogs and Netball New Zealand, Raelene has led sporting organisations at both a national and club level, giving her an in-depth understanding of what it takes to run a national sporting body as well as the unique challenges for clubs and the importance of building strong relationships and a unity of purpose within a sporting code,” said Clyne.
“Raelene impressed the board with her vision for Rugby and her clear understanding of what needs to be done to strengthen and unite the code at all levels. In talking to Raelene, and those who have worked with her over her successful sports administration career, it is clear that she fosters environments of collaboration and high performance, always leading by example.”
Castle said she was looking forward to the road ahead.
“I am honoured to be joining Rugby Australia and bringing to it my commercial and sports management and marketing experience,” said Castle.
“Having followed Rugby closely for over 30 years and having worked in the New Zealand and Australian sporting environments for the past 10 years, there is no doubt Australian rugby has a clear international and domestic offering for both male and female athletes that can be further developed and strengthened.”
With changes to the format of Super Rugby next season, Rugby Australia (or the ARU as they were known at the time) faced the difficult decision of cutting one team from the competition.
The Western Force ended up losing their place in the competition, sparking outrage. Pulver copped most of the blame and announced at the time he would be standing down from the role of Rugby Australia CEO once a suitable replacement was found.
bozo
Guest
A bonus for the future of rugby is that Castle does not have a 2088 postcode
Worlds Biggest
Guest
I think those casting doubt over Castles later tenure at the Dogs, should know that everything at the Bulldogs starts and ends with Ray Dibb. He is the Dictator and Castle, ultimately found this situ untenable and moved on. Let’s give her some time in the job before writing her off. She has vast experience in sports Asministration unlike her predecessor and could be a very good hire. I am quietly optimistic she can ( despite many hurdles / restrictions ) make a difference. When Pulver was hired I was underwhelmed to say the least, I am a lot more optimistic with Castle coming on board.
cuw
Guest
what u need to consider is , can u afford to mess up an already messy situ? becoz from all i read it seems auzzy rugger has very little money. and for me money is the prime consideration. without money , all the lofty plas to develop the game are just castles in the sky. u dont want to go where Samoa ( and a few others ) are - right??
RT
Guest
I really do find this appointment astounding. Her 2 main claims to fame, backing a now defunct trans Tasman Netball comp and presiding over a massive slump at the bulldogs. Just ridiculous.
GusTee
Roar Pro
I wish you all the best Raelene. Please remember that we in the West are also part of Australian rugby.
andrewM
Guest
The good news Jimbo is that RA can't go any further south than they are already!
Bakkies
Guest
I suggest you read up on the Saltbush review. Saltbush's Patrick Allaway is a member of the Friends of Sydney University Football Club along with de Clyne, Nick Farr Jones, Buildcorp.
DaveR
Guest
I was afraid that the remander of the disastrous 2017 ARU board would make the decision on the next CEO. If Australian rugby can learn anything, it should be that the whole board under Pulver and Clyne had to go. On thier watch they damaged the national team, damaged super rugby, damaged club rugby, and damaged schools rugby. How could this group be given the repsonsibility to hire the next CEO? Why haven't some of the more senior rugby interests in Sydney and Brisbane been more active in shaping the required extensive reforms?
Kane
Guest
I also hope she proves people wrong. What exactly has Phil Kerns achieved in business that should put him in the top two of an organisation with $100m turnover?
Bamboo
Guest
Cute. Have a look at her experience working for a national body, and imagine if the same was able to occur to RA.... You just don't like her, thats it. I'm talking about people like you in my above comment.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
Above comment not just with my WA hat on. My bet is ARU's requirements were demands rather than issues that had been negotiated intelligently. Twiggy and Rugby WA are no saints, but if she steps carefully then Twiggy will bend, and Australian rugby will benefit.
Perthstayer
Roar Rookie
A deal with Twiggy should be high on the agenda. If she starts with financial visibility for 3 to 5 years then she can execute whatever her strategy may be (not commenting on her past as I've not read much on of her). Twiggy was waiting for new CEO. Past few weeks have been noise. He and Rugby WA said Clynne's offer was woeful, but they were dealing with the monkey whilst awaiting the organ grinder (I couldn't think of a more polite phrase!).
lordpatty
Guest
this is pretty wild given that state the Bulldogs were in when she started compared with the state when she left. Given that Phil Kearns was second on the list, I worry about the recruiting prowess of the board. I would support bringing in someone from overseas if it was necessary for the good of Australian Rugby. Hope Raelene proves me wrong though
Jimbo81
Guest
Confirmed Allblacks Supporter Zero Experience with a successful team - only teams she joins go South quickly Don't let the door hit you on the way out within 12 months - 100% PC Charlatan Mess
Harry
Guest
Usual guff from Clyne with meaningless words and platitudes. I genuinely hope the incoming CEO's vision is not aligned with what Clyne and Pulver "achieved" at the grass roots and in the Force debacle, where it is painfully obvious that Melbourne was favoured over Western Australia. We are still to hear any convincing rationale why. Anyway best wishes to Raelene Castle. The most pressing task is to negotiate with Andrew Forrest an agreement for this Asia Pacific Rugby Championship or whatever it is. Good luck with that.
Fox
Roar Guru
Yeah that surprised me as well - the Bulldog are a financial mess but we shall see what happens I guess
League Man
Guest
Given the current mess that the Bulldogs are in, I was shocked to hear Raelene Castle appointed as CEO of Rugby. The Bulldogs with all their money are currently the laughing stock of the game. Weird
Bamboo
Guest
The ones that complain the loudest about this are the ones you don't want in the sport, as they are the ones that got you to where you are at present.
Drongo
Guest
She will be excellent in this role, a truely capable individual. We must now get behind her and support her.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good luck Raelene, wish you all the very best !