Waugh set to be next Rugby Australia CEO, Tahs lock down one Wallaby but another bound for Perth

One month after Andy Marinos resigned, Phil Waugh is firming as the next Rugby Australia chief executive.

The former Wallaby, who retired as the Waratahs’ most capped player in 2011, is understood to have presented strongly during the week.

While Waugh has yet to be appointed, it’s believed it’s a matter of when, not if. An official appointment is likely next week.

As revealed by The Roar on May 1, Waugh was always the hot favourite to replace Marinos, who lost support after going missing in action over the new year period.

Departing Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos (L), Bailey Mackey, Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan (C), New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson (2nd R) and former Wallabies player Phil Waugh (R) at the MCA on December 02, 2022 in Sydney. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

At the time, RA was considering Dave Rennie’s future as Wallabies coach. The governing body was also getting its ducks in a row regarding its private equity proposal, which shapes as a game-changer.

Not only were there differences on whether to sack Rennie, but also on recruiting Joseph Suaalii.

Waugh played 79 Tests and played in two World Cup campaigns (2003, 2007). He also captained the Wallabies three times and was vice-captain at the 2007 campaign in France.

Rugby Australia Board Director and former Wallaby, Phil Waugh, is firming as the next Rugby Australia CEO (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The former Waratahs captain has been on the Rugby Australia board since 2018. He also sat on RA’s rugby committee.

He has worked at Westpac, Commonwealth Bank and NAB, where he leads the Broker Distribution team as Executive, Broker Distribution in NAB’s Home Ownership Domain within the Personal Banking Division. It’s believed he had the blessings to leave his current role when Marinos departed.

Marinos is due to depart from RA on June 14.

Ben Donaldson looks set to join Nic White at the Western Force after failing to get offered a big deal from the Waratahs. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Gleeson gets new deal but Donno on the way out, Neville re-signs

The Waratahs have locked in Langi Gleeson for two more years but flyhalf Ben Ben Donaldson appears set to joint the Force revolution.

The 21-year-old Gleeson had a breakout year in 2022, making both his Waratahs and Wallabies debuts, before ending with three Tests. He had a difficult start to 2023 because of injury but was named in Eddie Jones’ first Wallabies squad.

“It means a lot to be here for another two years. We are building nicely into the finals but my focus remains on playing well for the team week to week,” Gleeson said in a statement.

“It was a tough start to the year after getting injured earlier on but it’s great to be getting some miles in the legs. The coaching staff were great too, they didn’t rush me back and helped me build throughout the season.

“I’m looking forward to playing tomorrow night in front of our home crowd at Allianz Stadium for the final time this year and the boys are keen to put together a performance for Hoops and Te Tera.

“There’s no doubt it’s an exciting time to be involved in Australian Rugby and I’ll be working hard to give myself the opportunity to make the most of it.”

NSW Waratahs head coach Darren Coleman said Gleeson is “a point of difference player. With his size, power and speed and as he continues to work hard on his body and game knowledge, he has the potential to become a star of the game.

“Langi has had a taste of Wallaby life; we are confident if he continues to grow, we will see him in the green and gold later this season.”

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, Donaldson is on the verge of a move to the Western Force, who have also announced the signing of Harry Potter from Leicester Tigers.

The English-born, Melbourne-raised Potter is eligible for either country and had made squads under Jones while the coach was at England.

 Harry Potter and Steve Borthwick. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The 25-year-old outside back also reveled he had spoken to Cron about playing at No.13.

Potter had a brief stint with the Melbourne Rebels in 2020 before moving to England’s top division.

“The way we played rugby at Leicester was great and I learnt a lot, it suited me in many ways, but now I need a new challenge to what the Northern Hemisphere offers,” Potter said.

“I was in Super Rugby for such a short time, so it’s always been my goal to return and make my Super Rugby debut. I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn new skill sets and will embrace the differences rugby in Australia provides.

“Simon Cron is an inspiring head coach, and the club is undoubtedly heading in the right direction. There have been some exciting signings, and I feel there is a positive buzz around the Western Force. The club is moving into an era that I am excited to be a part of.

“I’ve spoken to Simon [Cron] about playing a bit more at #13, so I am really looking forward to sinking my teeth into that possibility. I also want to play more attacking footy, and the Force will allow that and progress that avenue of my game.”

Meanwhile Wallabies lock Cadeyrn Neville has signed for another two years with the Brumbies.

 Neville became the third-oldest player to debut for the Wallabies, starting in the first Test against England in Perth last year.  He went on to wear the gold jersey eight times in his debut International season. 
 
Neville, who returned to Super Rugby after a stint in Japan having previously played for the Rebels and Reds, notched up 100 Super Rugby games earlier this season.

“I was lucky enough to be brought back to Australia into an already great program and have since had four quality seasons with some great people who’ve helped me become a better player and achieve some milestones that I’ll always be proud of,” said Neville.
 
“I’m very invested in the success of this place and the people in it so I feel privileged to be able to be part of it for the next two seasons. The body is showing no sign of slowing down so very pleased that I’ll still be wearing a Brumbies jersey while at the top of my game.”

Coach Stephen Larkham said his retention was no sure thing.

“At a point in the season, we were bracing for the likelihood this would be Nev’s last year for us, so to be here now and to know he’ll continue with our group is huge for us moving forward,” said Larkham.
 
“Nev’s been great to work with, and he has a really positive impact on the team, his teammates and the club in general. The history of the Brumbies shows that some guys belong here and Nev certainly one of those players and we’re fortunate to have him at the club.”

Eddie’s leadership drive

Once a week, Eddie Jones and his Wallabies inner-circle dial in for a Zoom meeting with one key focus – defying the odds and pinching the Rugby World Cup.

Warming to the Wallabies coach’s ‘smash and grab’ theme, belief is growing Australia can win their first Webb Ellis Cup since 1999 and return to the top of the rugby hierarchy.

Jones has not yet named a captain for the showpiece event – which kicks off in Paris, France, on September 8 – but is leaning on veterans such as Michael Hooper, Allan Alaalatoa, Nic White and James Slipper to help build a team that could strike through a wide-open World Cup field.

“The leaders are getting together once a week with Eddie … to talk about our learnings throughout Super Rugby but also about gameplay,” Alaalatoa said on Thursday.

“We’re continuing to get together once a week collaborating ideas, what we’re feeling, what we’re seeing and what we’re learning.

“There’s no time to waste and as leaders we’re trying to make the most of every opportunity when we’re not together as a team.

“We’ve got a lot of fathers in the crew, so they’re later in the night when the kids are asleep.

“It’s not something we’ve done in the past, so it’s good to keep in touch and understand what Eddie’s thinking because he’s a wise man, he gets the game.”

Mindset will play a key role for the Wallabies, with players and coaches regularly searching for the extra mental steel to ready them for battle.

“Eddie has got three psychologists in there. His quote was, ‘They’re working so hard that the psychologists are going to need psychologists’,” White said.

“We’ve got the talent, but there is something up top that hasn’t quite clicked, and we’re leaving no stone unturned to get the job done. It’s changing that mindset.”

“No stone is left unturned … it’s going to take all leaders and even guys outside of that group,” he said.

“No one person is going to be able to go over there and have made that much of a difference … (we’re) going to have a certain mentality around leading and everyone knowing their strengths and weaknesses.

“There’s a pretty cool feeling around Australian rugby at the moment.”

Nic White (Photo by Getty Images)

Looking back to April’s Gold Coast training get-together, a first peek into Jones’ personnel plans for the tournament which kicks off in 100 days, White said: “From that camp, everyone came out going ‘gee whiz … make sure you’re part of it’.

“There’s a real what we’re calling a ‘smash and grab’ opportunity there.”

Alaalatoa said Jones’ faith that Australia can take home the trophy was spreading to the players.

“When the boys left the camp, there was a lot of belief we can win the World Cup,” he said.

“How (Eddie) speaks and how he presents himself in front of the boys in the meetings … he’s constantly ingraining that in the players’ minds.”

Alaalatoa targets Super return

Injured Wallabies prop Allan Alaalatoa is confident he will be fit to face South Africa next month – and has not given up hope of a return to Super Rugby Pacific action.

The ACT Brumbies skipper tweaked his left calf against the Chiefs last weekend and will miss Friday night’s clash with Melbourne but said speculation the injury could end his World Cup hopes was overblown.

Asked if featuring in Australia’s Rugby Championship clash against South Africa in Pretoria on July 9 was a realistic aim, Alaalatoa said: “For sure, but for me mostly the target is a couple of weeks.”

The Brumbies are likely to play next Saturday in a Super Rugby quarter-final, with Alaalatoa not ruling out taking the field.

“Soft-tissue injuries are all dependent … on the individual and how they heal, and I’m already ahead of where I’m meant to be,” he said on Thursday.

“It was in the scrum, and that’s my core role. If I’m going to push it, I’m going to make sure I’m right to do the job. 

“The tests I’m doing at the moment are about seeing how I feel in those positions when I’m loading.

“Everything I’ve done so far has been good but in saying that it’s only been a couple of days.”

If fit, the 64-cap Wallaby would be one of the first names on Eddie Jones’ team sheet for the Springboks showdown but trying to deliver his club side some breakthrough silverware is top of Alaalatoa’s agenda.

He said he would need to balance his desire to return as quickly as possible with a long-term view, with the Rugby World Cup kicking off in 100 days.

“I was just shattered to miss the rest of (last Saturday’s) game, and then I had a little thought when I was sitting there on possibly missing the rest of the Super campaign,” Alaalatoa said.

“That emotion there was devastation … but everything so far has been positive, so I can continue to tick the boxes and keep pushing forward.

“It’s more just being in the moment and being present, but also making sure that I’m not making stupid decisions.

“There’s a bit of honesty towards that and I’m making sure when I do those tests I’m honest with how I feel, so I’m not a liability to the team.”

The Brumbies would lock in a top-four finish with victory against the Rebels, although they would only move up to third if the Blues fail to beat the Highlanders.

Defeat would leave Australia’s highest-ranked side needing the fifth-placed Hurricanes to lose to the Crusaders to ensure the Brumbies are not travelling to New Zealand in the first week of finals.