The forces that have conspired to dispose of Rugby Australia’s boss have succeeded in getting Raelene Castle to resign.
While Castle had a successful career in sports administration with netball then at the Canterbury Bulldogs, rugby union was the game with an old boys network that no other sport can compete with.
It’s ironic that in the same week that claimed National Rugby League CEO Todd Greenberg, the two were top dogs at Belmore.
Castle was always the controversial choice to head rugby union in Australia. She was always a hard sell to an Australian sporting public that was not used to the bosses of their respective sports being anything other than male.
(Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images)
Castle’s undoing was the dream-weavers within RA headquarters tripping down Main Street that accepted her resignation. No large organisation, be it sporting or business, that undertakes sweeping changes within their organisation can do so without board approval.
The top table within Australian rugby was happy enough to support Castle up until it wasn’t.
While all Australian sports are under the most extreme pressure that they have faced in their existence, rugby is even more so as it didn’t have a broadcasting deal tied down.
When RA decided to take the rights to market and in turn spurn long-time partner Fox Sports, the board signed off on that decision.
If Castle was to resign, it should have been then if there was dissent within the boardroom. As far as we know, there wasn’t.
Australian rugby was not in a position to ask for more money with falling ratings, participation rates dropping and the public apathy for the game at its lowest levels in decades.
This was a poor decision by Castle and COVID-19 made it even worse.
Coronavirus was her real undoing as a deal with Optus was due to be inked if we can believe reports. If this happened, it would have been revolutionary for Australian sports broadcasting as no other major sport would have exclusively been housed on such a platform.
This may or may not still happen but Raelene Castle will not be handling those negotiations.
While she has not been successful in all of her endeavours in rugby, she was an administrator that thought outside of the box and the elbow-patch brigade was not used to such thinking.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Yeah, possibly... but more of a word sheek. Lament being his 'go to' - yes. :laughing:
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
But a word smith- yes.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Made a Grand Final. Sounds ok. Only 8 teams did that in the 5 seasons she was involved. 6 if you ignore 2013 as she started halfway through.
aussierad
Roar Rookie
This article lost any credibility attributing a successful career at the bulldogs.
Mark Scarfe
Roar Guru
As stated in the above comments, that is not my line but the editors. This article took out some of my best bit such as the title, "The Castle has fallen but the house of cards reman".
Armchair Halfback
Roar Rookie
Elbow patch brigade - must be the biggest sledge since Will Carling's "57 old farts" ;)
apbdillon
Roar Rookie
Braodcast?
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@PeterK hehehehe whatever - so hang me or sue me - happy now :thumbup: Got anything important to say?
PeterK
Roar Guru
EXCEPT that misspelling is not a typo though is it? It is an intentional mistake , you spell it phonetically (and do it multiple times) not because you erroneously typed a double o.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@PeterK yes Peter will you allow me 1 or 2 typos :shocked:
PeterK
Roar Guru
far better than the sensationalist agenda driven one they used, and the last line they added, that is digraceful.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I am very interested in the parts the editors took out, would you please provide a bullet point list in reply of what was taken out?
PeterK
Roar Guru
I didn't know that was official and not just speculation. What were the conditions on the free to air option and with which tv channel?
PeterK
Roar Guru
losers not loosers
PeterK
Roar Guru
I imagine they also created the sensationalist headline. That is bad enough but if the editors actually add comments like the last line that is disgraceful and it changes the sentiment / views of the author substantially.
PeterK
Roar Guru
I mainly agree however if it was clear that RA could of achieved a lot more on the braodcast deal then a deal would have been struck with either Optus or renewed for a larger amount with Foxtel. Also the deal with Optus did not include a live full game free to air option that I am aware of. Finally being well educated surely point 4 should be Pay TV loser not Pay TV looser!
Mark Scarfe
Roar Guru
Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Excellent title. Poetic and accurate.
Harry Jones
Expert
Chook has elbow scratches
Harry Jones
Expert
Chicken scratch on fire