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On January 31 this year I sent the following letter to Rugby Australia. At first things went well. I was sent an acknowledgement that my letter had been received. A couple of weeks later I received another email, asking whether my complaint had been successfully resolved. I pointed out that I had not received any reply to my letter and was awaiting it eagerly.
I never received a reply, so the letter is printed below, with many questions, still unanswered:
“I am writing to make a complaint about the treatment of the former coach of the Wallabies, Mr David Rennie. I suppose I am therefore writing to Mr Hamish McLennan, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Australian Rugby Union (Rugby Australia).
I am saddened and disturbed by the actions of the Board in removing Mr Rennie as coach for a number of reasons, but principally because he was contracted to take the team to the next Rugby World Cup. I recognise that contracts seem to matter little these days, except that they represent a point of honour between the governing body and the employee. To dishonour the contract is a major undertaking, undeniably valid in the event of serious misconduct or something akin to that.
To break contract with Mr Rennie, however, involved a series of judgments that indicated to me that honour was trumped by opportunism, and that results hoped for overruled considerations of diligence and a longer term view.
The supporters of your decision will take the win rate statistic of 38% and milk it for all its worth, and will no doubt throw in instability of selections and the team’s apparent ill discipline to support their (and your) position. Trot out all this stuff and then act with dishonour and it’s all okay, apparently. Then appoint a new saviour and be done with it. Problem solved. This may come across as cynical, but sometimes cynicism results from shameful and dishonourable acts.
(Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)
I have watched the Wallabies for the past three years with some degree of frustration, because they have been inconsistent both in performance and results. However, I have also noticed a gradual building of culture that has resulted in a coherence to the broader cause, and an unfractured application to teammates that was boding well. This despite a crippling (literally) injury count (which apparently is actually the coach’s fault), the unavailability of key players at key times and a shortage of quality players in key positions (try fullback, five eight and hooker for example). So we dishonour Mr Rennie by sacking him, when who knows what he might have achieved? And we will never know.
I am sadly disappointed by the decision, not only because it is dishonourable but also because it lacks justice. Mr Rennie’s great solace lies in the fact that the people who actually count, his players and staff, hold him in the highest regard. This is not about winning the World Cup (which we won’t). It is about common decency, which a humble and diligent man certainly did not receive.
I love Australian Rugby. I abhor the treatment of this fine servant.”
I am wondering if the Chairman’s position at Rugby Australia is tenable. Obviously the coach’s is not after the debacle in Lyon.
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.