Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Phil Kearns will head Australia’s 2027 tournament bid.
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan announced Kearns had been appointed executive director, seeming to rule the former hooker out of the running as the new chief executive.
Kearns, who played 67 Tests for Australia, will lead a heavyweight team that includes former prime minister John Howard, former governor-general Sir Peter Cosgrove and International Olympic Committee vice-president John Coates.
His role will include engaging with government at all levels as well as international stakeholders including World Rugby Member Unions.
Following a storied playing career, Kearns held previous posts as chief executive of Centric Wealth as well as managing director at InterRISK Australia.
“Phil will be front and centre of Rugby World Cup bid team and will lead our international relations to put Rugby Australia in the strongest possible position to win the right to host the 2027 showpiece,” McLennan said.
“Phil has an impeccable international reputation both in the corporate sector and with his network of contacts throughout the rugby world.”
Kearns said he was excited about the appointment, with the World Cup crucial to RA’s financial health.
“I know what it takes to win a World Cup on the field in Wallaby Gold and now I’m enormously excited to put in the work to win the right to host a World Cup here in Australia,” he said.
“The World Cup in 2027 would be transformational for the game in this country.
“The financial windfall it would bring would spark the Australian economy as we rebuild from the impact of COVID-19 and then gives us the opportunity to invest back into the grassroots of the game.”
Fracktobunt
Roar Rookie
Thank you, much better
Jacko
Guest
Well I suspect that kearns is a bloke that has upset many rugby people from many different countries with his derogatoy comments during live TV broadcasts and i suspect that may come back to bite Aus at vote time....So based on my suspisions I believe He is not suitable for the role he has been selected for to assist in getting the 2027 WC in Aus. Hope you are now happy Matt but I have my doubts...Oh well...suck it up princess!
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@PeterK hahaha enjoy your fantasy :happy:
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Matt Well you do the same then and result will be you'll never leave your house or make any decisions on anything your whole life - good luck Matt :thumbup:
Fracktobunt
Roar Rookie
Nope it’s a suspicion not a judgement, the way you can tell is that I used the words “I suspect”.
Double Agent
Guest
:laughing: :laughing:
Jacko
Guest
Stop judging me Matt...Have you met me? That makes you foolish in your own opinion.
Jacko
Guest
that sounds like a judgement to me...Can you stop judging people Matt!!!
Jacko
Guest
Does my brain look fat in this? lol
Gray-Hand
Roar Rookie
Howard consistently had one of the highest approval ratings of any modern Australian prime minister. He achieved and maintained broad respect, if not affection, across the country including in demographics that were not traditional supportive of conservative political parties. He is clearly the most successful prime minister of the last 30 years, in terms of electoral success and policy implementation. Daylight is second. He might have some views on certain social issues that some people (including me) might find disagreeable, but there is no denying that he got results. It is basically impossible to think of an individual who would bring more gravitas to any Australian bid for a rugby World Cup.
PeterK
Roar Guru
in Waxhead’s world the CCP is left of centre, the greens are the centre, labor are right of centre, any conservative party is far right and there is no far left party or group. The guardian is a central, objective , totally fair and unbiased. The ABC is right wing biased and every other paper is extreme far right. No paper writtien in english, is left wing , none whatsoever , the official chinese proganda newsletter slightly left of centre.
Warwick Todd
Guest
Mission accomplished.
Charlie Turner
Guest
I'm not sure you really understand the political spectrum if you think Howard is far right. Tone down the hyperbole and you might be taken seriously.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
"you could do with the intellectual exercise" must have been a compliment.
Fracktobunt
Roar Rookie
I’m starting to suspect he’s an Aussie trying to make Kiwis look a touch backward...Otherwise
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
World Rugby members will vote on the bid based on the merit and benefit to themselves, not whether they like the leader of it or not. Howard is still a figure that Lib pollies wheel out, so he will at least have influence with them. Do you honestly think given the results of the 2019 election that Howard's appeal doesn't align with the party that was elected in government with Morrison (who apparently owes his rise to Howard), Dutton, Christenson, Taylor and Joyce. Howard seems like a moderate alter boy compared to some of the scum that were re-elected last go round.
Fracktobunt
Roar Rookie
Waxhead, that is pure comedy gold my friend....yep I’m guilty of “Judging“ one cereal box against another when I go shopping...I’ll try to stop it if you stop judging people you’ve met once for a couple of minutes in a public toilet sometime ago.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Matt: you ask "who do you think you are?" I am completely bemused - it seems he is off with the fairies, with his meaningless question (put to me as well, just up the page) "are you unaware what the article is about?"
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Matt OMG what a crock of s#$%. All of us, everyday, are forced to make personal judgements of many things based on limited info. What do you think elections are and your shopping preferences? You are doing it multiple times everyday. In regard to Kearns and Howard we've got far more info on which to make personal judgements than with most people. They've both been very public figures for over 30 yrs with 1000s of media appearances. We can see the impact of their actions over decades. And hate to tell you this Matt - I've personally met Kearns, and many politicians from all sides over the years, and the real people are almost always much worse than what they appear to be in the media. After personal meetings I mostly walk away with fear and loathing :happy:
Fracktobunt
Roar Rookie
Jacko, have an opinion and write about it but stop judging people....I mean you’ve even admitted you don’t know the bloke and you can only “judge” him from what you see on TV....why do you have to judge him, who do you think you are?