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Rugby Australia chairman Cameron Clyne has announced he will resign from his position next year, bringing to an end a tenure which started in 2016.
Clyne will not seek re-election at next March’s annual general meeting, but meanwhile will have a number of high-profile tasks to contribute to, including the governing body’s ongoing legal stoush with sacked star Israel Folau and the search for a new Wallabies coach.
In a statement released on Monday morning, Clyne said he was proud of the sport’s achievements during his stint as chairman – albeit admitting the difficulty involved in cutting the Western Force two years ago – but took a swipe at rugby media and hoped attention would be redirected away from his successor to “where it rightfully should be”.
“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.
“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.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.