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In a bombshell move four months out from the World Cup, Rugby Australia chief executive Andy Marinos has handed in his resignation.
The Roar can reveal the experienced administrator, who was previously the Super Rugby boss, resigned late last week. He did so after feeling the heat over the past few months as rumours swirled about his future.
Rugby Australia confirmed the news on Monday afternoon.
“We asked Andy to draw upon his impressive career experience and extensive global relationships to re-establish Rugby as a leading code in Australia – he has delivered on this and been fundamental in the turnaround of the business,” chairman Hamish McLennan said.
RA have yet to line someone up to immediately replace Marinos, but former Wallaby turned RA board member Phil Waugh is one of the leading internal candidates to take over as CEO.
Marinos said RA was in a strong position to capitalise on the so-called ‘Golden Decade’.
“The foundations have been established and the business is now well-prepared to test the market for private equity investment, making it the right time for me to move on,” he said in a statement.
“Importantly, I will leave with the knowledge that RA is in a stronger position than when I joined, and proud of what has been achieved in my tenure as CEO.”
Andy Marinoshas resigned as Rugby Australia CEO four months out from the World Cup. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
While Marinos will officially finish up in June, the timing of his departure is curious.
No administrator walks so late in a four-year World Cup cycle, particularly after crawling through mud over the past two years to get to this point.
Marinos lost considerable support after going missing in action over the New Year period.
The RA offices might have been closed over the festive period, but many balls were still up in the air when Marinos took more than a month’s break.
Indeed, RA’s high-performance review was being conducted into the Wallabies’ underwhelming year.
Although the findings have yet to be released, Dave Rennie was punted as coach and Eddie Jones sensationally parachuted in after being sacked by the Rugby Football Union in early December.
Marinos was still in South Africa when Rennie was sacked and delivered the news via Zoom.
His decision to take an extended holiday also came as RA attempts to nut out a new contracting model stalled. It led to multiple contracts being kicked further down the road in a World Cup year.
The governing body was also working hard to put the final touches together for their private equity bid, which shapes as one of the game’s biggest decisions this century.
Newly appointed Wallabies coach Eddie Jones (C) poses alongside Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan (L) and former CEO Andy Marinos (R) on January 31, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images
For months there had been rumours that a change was coming.
It’s believed Marinos had told some rugby figures, including player agents, that next year’s issues wouldn’t be his because he wouldn’t be in his current position.
His decision to part ways with RA comes just days after McLennan tipped his hat at the leadership that had seen RA go from a $27 million deficit to an $8.2m surplus in the space of three years.
“Look, a landmark day for us today,” McLennan said at last Wednesday’s annual general meeting.
“We made a surplus of 8.2 million, so I think you all know where we were a few years ago, where we lost close to $27 million through the horrible COVID-19 pandemic. All the credit should go to Andy and the management team for really turning the business around.
“We’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of us. But with the World Cup coming up this year, the golden decade, Eddie Jones arriving, there’s also a lot to look forward to. At least now we’ve got the whole organisation on a firm footing and sponsors are coming in and we’re delighted with our relationship with our broadcast partners. It’s very positive for us.
“Again, I’d like to thank Andy and the management team for the great work they’ve done.”
Rugby Australia Board Director and Classic Wallaby Phil Waugh is a strong internal option to take over as CEO while Todd Greenburg is another option. Photo: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images
Marinos is the second RA CEO to “resign” in three years, after Rob Clarke temporarily held the role following Raelene Castle’s decision to step away in April, 2020.
The former international centre was appointed after previously being SANZAAR CEO.
While Super Rugby fell apart under his watch, in part because of COVID-19, he hardly left with his stocks high.
But should RA prosper from its golden decade, history could well look down on him favourably.
Indeed, he was a steady hand when RA needed one. Too steady in some ways, with sections within the governing body believing decisive action is the only way for the game to once again thrive.
While Waugh is the favourite, Todd Greenberg has been floated as a possible candidate.
Kylie Rogers, who is the Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial at AFL, also previously worked with McLennan at Channel 10 and is well respected.
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.