The announcement that Phil Kearns was appointed Rugby Australia’s director of the 2027 Rugby World Cup bid brought a wry to smile to my face.
Only a few months ago it was being reported – a fait accompli – by Jessica Halloran in The Australian that Kearns was to be appointed the next CEO of RA. Unsurprisingly to any rugby tragic that outcome never eventuated.
The history around this has been extensively reported. However, in brief, Kearns applied for the CEO role at the same time as Raelene Castle. Unfortunately for her – and the majority of Australian sports CEOs – she did not last beyond COVID.
With no permanent replacement appointed yet, one could assume that Kearns still holds ambitions for the role and one could expect him to be a candidate for the open position.
Obviously the new chairman Hamish McLennan thought differently about this. This is another example of McLennan’s considerable executive talents. His ability to manage the politics of rugby thus far have been nothing short of a revelation for the code. His contribution has been no less important than Peter V’landys at the NRL.
This is part of McLennan’s multifaceted strategy aims to kill more than two birds with one stone.
First, its better to keep the elephants inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
When Kearns lost out to Castle, it unleashed the nasty underbelly of Australian rugby. Led by Alan Jones, the attacks were relentless and in many cases unjustified. Kearns is the flag bearer for the NSWRU and SRU factions: two politically powerful institutions, and institutions accustomed to getting their own way.
The rejection of Kearns was equivalent to rejecting them. Getting Kearns inside the tent with an important and high profile role will likely heal some of their wounds and – in their minds – place their man in a seat at the adults table, where he belongs. The astute McLennan knows that is much harder for institutions to launch attacks on one of their own.
Second, a large majority of the fan-base has tuned Kearns out: his lacklustre commentary, association with the captains letter and the general feeling that he just not the right guy for the RA CEO role.
Kearns still holds ambitions to be the CEO, no doubt at all. McLennan knows this. He also knows how unacceptable that proposition is in the rugby community and likely with the majority of state union bodies. The role McLennan has given him is the perfect starting point for Kearns to change the perception and show in reality he can deliver a massive benefit for the whole rugby community. A large-scale bid project like this – even if it is a one-horse race – will require much the same skill set expected in a CEO.
Finally, like all good chairmen – which McLennan certainly is – they have their eye to the future and in particular, succession planning. Some may say we don’t even have the new CEO in place – why would RA be thinking about the next one after that?
The average tenure of a CEO is less than five years so it is very likely a new CEO will be appointed before the 2027 World Cup. If Kearns has ambitions, then it would be remiss of McLennan to not include him in his long-term succession plans.
This role will provide Kearns the exposures he needs to demonstrate that he should be part of those plans. It provides him with a high-profile opportunity to overcome some of the weaknesses that failed to get him the role last time. Any future application by Kearns can only be strengthened by this experience.
The last time Kearns applied for a role at RA, he wasn’t successful and his supporters never got over it. McLennan, the masterful strategist, will not be caught in the same trap and in doing so he’s given Kearns the opportunity to demonstrate that he’s up to the big job and has given RA some succession option years out from when they need it.
Faith
Roar Rookie
For outsiders who know little about Aussie rugby politics and see Kearnsy as the worst representation of Oz rugby down under this is just another nail in the inevitable - the coffin. I just read somewhere that Aotearoa has more viewers in Aus than Super Rugby Australia - go figure ...
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Richard yes most Roar members don't appear to understand McLennan is another News Corp plant. The majority of the RA Board are now. It was taken over by News Corp 100% after they ditched Raelene. As a current Foxtel employee Kearns always was a News Corp puppet along with Jones, ex captains and their other mates from Sydney's north shore. A private school old boys club of yes men. Leading the bid team is a plumb job. Even for a diplomatic disaster area like Kearns it will be hard for him to f%^& up as IRB will want to gift Aust a future RWC. That success will enhance his ambitions for CEO of RA imo.
Richard
Roar Rookie
Hey mate That was a correction made by the editors. I used a stronger word. Don't know why you got rejected. Your comments made me smile. Maybe you're right but at least we have Chairman who is been visible and appears to 'get' rugby and, more importantly, what the community needs right now. You must remember he is both a News Copy guy and a former News Corp guy. He had a successful stint at Channel 10. Only time will tell. The SMH piece today gives me a lot of hope. He's not going to back down and sell Aus rugby for 30 pieces of silver. As far as Kerns is concerned. He'll either deliver or he won't. I'm going to judge him on that.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
G'day Richard I commented on your article last last but mine was rejected cos I quoted your use of the p$%% word. Appears its fine for authors to use it but not commenters. Anyway, I see you've been reading The Australian again - I did warn you :silly: But I have a different take to you on this situation. I view both McLennan and Kearns as uncanny News Corp yes men. They are both puppets who take orders from their masters and Kearns appointment is just another plumb job for the boys. It actually enhances his ambitions for the CEO job imo by giving him high level sports admin experience leading a bid Aust will most likely be gifted anyway. This job doesn't restrict him in any way. Kearns can leave it when he wants and he can fire bullets at whoever, anytime, to further his ambitions. Nothing smart or canny from McLennan there - only what you'd expect of a puppet :silly:
Magic65
Roar Rookie
Jeez read the title…thought PK had trouble with the family jewels.
Lano
Roar Guru
Great article Richard, and very interesting follow-up comments too. I love the concept Kearns getting the RWC gig to get him out of the way! If the only benefit is removing him from the commentary box, that alone would suffice.
Guess
Roar Rookie
He's already started with negative headline by saying rugby can become a third tier sport...
Richard
Roar Rookie
Totally agree. Good governance is the key the good performance any organisation. Fortunately, it has been reported, that McLennan is working on that now too. Proposed full constitutional and governance reform. Give more operational responsibility back to the states.
Richard
Roar Rookie
Yeah I think that is all very fair. Not a lot of people can remember that he was the key man with WRC stuff. All those guys ended up taking all the money off the table for themselves, leaving basically nothing for the grassroots….and here we are today. Some of the points this you have mentioned are reasons why I think McLennan is such canny operator. He doesn’t want to fight with those people. Just put Phil in corner and let him play with himself.
Horseflesh
Guest
Agreed. He is an uninspiring bloke. Considering his record as a player, I find his commentary regarding forward play / scrummaging etc remarkably devoid of any technical insight. He has nothing of interest to contibute. It seems that he has spent his post-rugby life dining out on the glory of his Wallabies days. Having connections doesn't qualify you for anything.
Noodles
Roar Rookie
Kearns was in the David Lord camp all those years ago. He is in the News Ltd camp today. Whatever talents he has, his style is a very close facsimile of the Sydney rugby establishment that has driven most supporters to despair. Cliques, matey Australian Club behaviours, blokey posturing and a presumption of elite capability based solely on status. It is not what rugby needs at all. In fact that whole Sydney/Brisbane establishment idea is at the core of our troubles. Phil played great rugby. Most of us would like to leave it at that. He shows zero capability as a national team builder of the game.
CW Moss
Roar Rookie
Very good point Richard and good on you for stepping up and writing an article on it. I’m still reeling from the Board picking Raelene, which has been written about enough. Yeah, a good move from Hamish, Kearnsy is taken care of for now. There are lots of potential CEO’s out there who played Rugby so if they used a decent head-hunter an independent, talented person should be a simple enough matter. In my experience, it goes back to the Board and the composition of the Board in diversity, experience, governance, all that stuff which is a rare commodity. The Board should reflect the rugby community and heaven forbid, what about the general population. I used to play First Division rugby for UNSW. They are now in 3rd division, sub-district. The fall from grace reflects the changing composition of the Uni community. They are now champions in Cricket, Hockey, Badminton, Volley Ball but not rugby. Interesting times.
Ex force fan
Guest
Don’t be surprised if the RWC is played in Sydney.... Hopefully this role will keep Kearns busy that he cannot reconcile it with his commentary role.
Jacko
Guest
I cant help but think that if Kearns fails to get the 2027 WC for Aus then he will never be a CEO of Aus rugby...Very clever move by McLennen....If Kearns succeeds it was McLennens idea and if he fails it shows he shouldnt be a CEO
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
Well he is good at generating headlines, the hardest part will be..... Can he generate positive headlines? Because to win the hosting rights will need all the positive headlines possible, both here and abroad.
Richie
Roar Rookie
Being the CEO of a “sure thing” is a dangerous precursor to being the CEO of RA. Kearns has been shown to be incapable of being impartial so how could he run the national body when his interest is only confined to a small part of Sydney?