- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has revealed Eddie Jones’ disastrous World Cup campaign included millions of dollars in unapproved expenses.
“The over-investment that was unapproved was $2.6 million, which covered three main elements, being team costs, staff travel and then player benefits,” Waugh told reporters.
He was asked if he and then RA chairman Hamish McLennan were aware of the budget blow out while it was happening.
“A lot of that’s retrospective,” Waugh said.
Eddie Jones, Head Coach of Australia, speaks with Ben Donaldson of Australia prior to the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Australia and Portugal at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on October 01, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Julian Finney – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
“So a lot of that came through post-World Cup. Going into a World Cup you want to set the team up for success.
“I mean, the reality is that 86 per cent of our revenue comes through the men’s 15s program for Rugby Australia, and a successful World Cup program is critical to that.
“There was lenience given in the hope that we would succeed at the World Cup and make it deep into the tournament. Clearly that didn’t happen, but the circumstances were quite unique.”
Waugh did not directly blame Jones or his team manager Chris Webb, neither of who are still with the Wallabies, but said: “breaches in that area and we’ve made personnel changes on the back of some of those breaches.”
He said Super Rugby clubs had been made aware of the over-spend.
“The unapproved investment was disclosed to them at [a] summit with them on Monday,” Waugh said. “Clearly, that’s not acceptable and it won’t happen again going forward.”
RA earlier released 23 recommendations from the external review conducted into the Wallabies’ 2023 season, including the Rugby World Cup disaster.
A focus on team leadership and a “more transparent” selection procedure follows the chaotic mess of selections under Jones.
Since the World Cup, reports have emerged of poor communication to players who were left off the squad.
Waugh said a “big thing that came through was a lack of connectedness from the coaching staff right through to the newer players.
“That’s very much a thing to work on, that culture element and ensuring that connectedness.”
Waugh suggested that culture issues raised were confined to the 2023 season.
“What came through is culture and trust,” said Waugh. “Trust takes time. Clearly there’s been a breakdown in trust from leadership, the organisation and players.
“It’s my responsibility that the players are in the environment, that’s the right environment and world class and they want to be a part of. It came through that we didn’t create that environment for the players.”
The review, undertaken by a four-person panel incorporating former internationals Andrew Slack and Justin Harrison, as well as Darlene Harrison and Pasifika Advisor Moana Leilua, aims to help “build a stronger Wallabies program,” according to Waugh.
With 94 participants, the review outlined 23 recommendations for RA. In a statement RA said the governing body has lready begun addressing the key areas via restructuring of its High Performance department.
That includes the recruitment of Peter Horne as Director of High-Performance, David Nucifora as a High-Performance Advisor, and Joe Schmidt as Wallabies head coach within the new structure.
“Following the Rugby World Cup last year, we began to systematically apply structural and personnel changes to address a significant number of the improvement opportunities raised in the review,” said Waugh.
“Last season was a unique situation with a unique set of circumstances, and it was important for us to hold an external process to get a very detailed and honest evaluation from the stakeholders – especially the players.
“This will allow us to process the 2023 season and use it to build a stronger Wallabies program.
“We have been stressing the importance of an aligned and united Rugby ecosystem across all levels, and it is essential that the Wallabies lead the way – the Wallabies are an important team to Australia, with a long and storied history.
Rugby Australia Board Director and Classic Wallaby Phil Waugh looks on during a Rugby Australia media opportunity in support of the Rugby World Cup 2027 & 2029 bid, at Queensbridge Square on May 13, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
“I would like to thank each of the members of the review panel for their professionalism, thoroughness and sensitivity throughout this process – I am confident that this review will help draw a line in the sand as we strive to implement the processes and structures that will drive the Wallabies towards a successful future.”
The recommendations were grouped into five categories.
HP strategy
Wallabies and HP programs
Culture
Governance
National coaching program