Super Rugby Pacific have named a key staffer of the A-Leagues football competition as their first CEO.
Jack Mesley, who will commence in the role on July 22, is currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Australian Professional A-Leagues.
Mesley said in a statement he was excited by the opportunity “to engage with the competition and the fans, to help deliver the best possible entertainment product and to drive deeper engagement with the game.
“This is a monumental step for the unions and clubs to come together with a real intent to grow Super Rugby Pacific and put fans at the centre,” Mesley said.
“I am looking forward to working with closely with the Super Rugby Pacific clubs to understand their commonalities and differences, and to come together to ignite the flame for generations to come.”
Prior to his role at the A-Leagues, Mesley was the Chief Commercial Officer at NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and spent nine years in brand and marketing at beverages company Lion.
Super Rugby Pacific Chair Kevin Malloy said Mesley’s marketing background and practical skillset made him ideally suited to the Super Rugby Pacific CEO role.
“What set Jack apart from a strong pool of candidates following a thorough search was his passion for rugby, his enthusiasm and a breadth of experience in both marketing and sports,” Malloy said.
“We were looking for someone who isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves, given the joint venture is still relatively new. Jack sees the potential of the competition and wants to build on the success we’ve had to date. And he understands the need to form strong relationships with the broad range of stakeholders. We are really looking forward to having him onboard come July.”
Werchon reveals prank ahead of debut
Louis Werchon’s Queensland Reds teammates tried to prank him ahead of his Super Rugby Pacific debut.
But a tongue-in-cheek call last week to check why he was late, an hour before the team was due to meet, backfired.
The 21-year-old halfback was already in the building.
It was no coincidence. The self-styled Sunshine Coast talent was making sure there was no repeat of what happened last year.
Named to make his debut off the bench, Werchon’s Mazda ute – complete with a plastic crown melted to the dashboard and The Goat number plate – was stuck in traffic.
He was three minutes late, renowned disciplinarian coach Brad Thorn pulling him aside at the captain’s run soon after to tell him he’d been dropped.
“Thorny just said, ‘not good enough, really’, and told me to go to the gym,” Werchon told AAP ahead of Saturday’s clash with the red-hot Blues at Suncorp Stadium.
“The meeting hadn’t even started … it (to be dropped) was pretty brutal and I definitely thought it was a bit unfair.
“Now I’m not taking any chances.
“I’m pretty sure I was two hours early all of last week.”
It’s not all talk. Werchon was five minutes early for this interview (with AAP’s Murray Wenzel) and says his entire approach to football has changed as a result of that tardy morning.
“I’ve worked a lot harder and I’m taking my footy more seriously this year,” he said.
“I still try and enjoy it as much as possible but have taken a step forward with my diet, my prep, recovery … but I’d never cut my hair (to conform).”
Louis Werchon poses during the Queensland Reds 2024 Super Rugby headshots session at the National Rugby Training Centre on January 24, 2024 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images for Super Rugby)
Werchon admits he thought his professional dreams had been dashed, the junior Wallabies talent heading back to finish his plumbing apprenticeship and hoping for the best.
He impressed new coach Les Kiss and earned a new contract late last year, former schoolmate Tate McDermott’s three-week suspension opening the door for his debut off the bench in a 31-0 defeat of the Highlanders last week.
It was the Sunshine Coast Grammar graduate’s first game at Suncorp Stadium and he didn’t shy away, launching a brilliant torpedo that wobbled to trouble the opposing fullback with his first kick.
He was happy to pick a fight with a Highlanders forward and showed the dash and dare with ball in hand that he hopes will put pressure on Kiss once Wallabies halfback McDermott is free to return.
“We’re all good mates but I’m trying to not only get (fellow halfback) Kalani (Thomas), but Tatey as well,” Werchon said.
“The dream is to wear that Wallabies jersey.”
Werchon’s teammates rate his humour and confidence while Kiss has leant into the entire squad’s personalities to get more out of a talented roster that had stalled under Thorn’s successful six-year reign.
“Les just wants us to all be ourselves – we got this far being ourselves – he’s been the best, communication-wise, footy-wise,” Werchon said.
“And Brad (Davis, assistant coach) with the backs, has been unreal.”
Watch every match of Super Rugby Pacific ad-free, live & on demand on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport
The Reds (4-4) kept a team scoreless for the first time since 1999 last week.
But they will face a monstrous task against the Auckland-based Blues (7-1) who put 46 and 50 points on the ACT Brumbies and Western Force respectively in the last fortnight.
“They’re clinical and we’ve got to break it down,” Werchon said.
“A win would be huge and what we did on the weekend gives us the confidence.”
Hewat joins McKellar at Leicester
Dan McKellar, whose first season in the Premiership with Leicester Tigers looks set for disappointment, has recruited former Brumbies colleague Peter Hewat as his attack coach.
The 46-year-old Hewat is joining from the Black Rams in Japan’s Rugby League One where he was head coach.
A 40-17 defeat to rivals Northampton Saints last week left Leicester third from bottom and six points off the playoff places with three rounds to play.
The attack coach McKellar inherited after leaving the Wallabies set up on the arrival of Eddie Jones, was Alan Dickens who was placed on leave in October. Matt Smith, who was already operating as skills coach and lead academy coach, took the extra responsibilities.
(With AAP)
Wallaby Tragic
Roar Rookie
This is the man that has delivered the worst TV deal in Australian sport and majority of A League clubs are struggling! Great choice - not! “What set Jack apart from a strong pool of candidates following a thorough search was his passion for rugby, his enthusiasm and a breadth of experience in both marketing and sports,”
Gepetto
Roar Rookie
... "talented roster that had stalled under Thorn’s successful six-year reign". Successful!!!; you've got to be kidding. Reds fan numbers at the games dropped to an all-time low with coach Goon in charge. An inarticulate Richard Graham.
mjseesred
Roar Rookie
Cool. So he knows the game and has worked in successful sporting frsmeworks
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Jack Mesley may have a synergy-based opinion on the Rebels consortium proposal to work closely with the A League based in the Tarneit facility in southwest Melbourne.
jeznez
Roar Guru
He was a rugby player MJ. Was at Colleagues at the same time I was there. Jack a first grader and NSW Subbies rep team player while I was in lower grades. He played Brumbies U-19’s back in his uni days
Muglair
Roar Rookie
Interesting that Thorn's ruthless response changed Werchon's attitude and approach to professional rugby. Putting the fans at the centre is not the answer. It might work at SRP global level, but not until some of the organisations down the line put players at the centre. That is not professional players, although they should be treated equally, but all players.
ols
Roar Pro
I think you mean lysdexia :laughing:
East Coast Aces
Roar Rookie
I reckon because Hewat was such an awesome player but stitched up to not get picked for the Wallabies will make him turn out to be an awesome coach
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
Bring back “Duck a l’Orange”.
K.F.T.D.
Roar Rookie
You’re giving me dyslexia!
LeftRightOut
Roar Rookie
Not sure if mentioned here previously. Whitaker is going to Castres next season. For me, that is good for both the Tahs and Whitaker.
LeftRightOut
Roar Rookie
Very happy for Hewat, was a very underrated player. McKellar has at least confronted an issue, so here is hoping that next season Leicester will see some positive returns. Listening to a northern pod, one of the hosts was talking about how Leicester were scoring less tries than in Borthwick/Wigglesworths and how not overtly impressed with McKellar. He has had some injury issues in the squad to be fair but that is all part of rugby. It is a great learning place the English league if the ability is there to learn, Leicester was the end of Matt O'Connor and a few others. One who did exceptionally well at Leicester, not to mention the fact of coming straight out of playing, was Patty Howard. Very sad and a big loss, in my opinion, that he didn't come back into rugby after cricket.
mjseesred
Roar Rookie
Dare you to say that to his face. ????
ols
Roar Pro
Daniel Herbert looks like the Bundy Bear these days. :laughing:
Mike88
Roar Rookie
Hewat going from a good coaching stint in Japan to an assistant position in a better league. Hopefully one day to a Super Rugby position. Not lumping on Coleman but he is hopelessly behind in experience and I think out of his depth. I doubt Richo nor Leicester would look at Coleman. I'd say Hewat will be head coach at Leicester before too long as McKellar's days are truly numbered.
mjseesred
Roar Rookie
And let's face it A league was built by side stepping the club based and state based peeing contests to set up a ture national league that was a fresh start
Charlie Mackay
Roar Rookie
Only relatively recent in creation from memory… but if it means that the two major nations get fooked out of the way in marketing and management then I’m all for it.
mjseesred
Roar Rookie
No just like the NRL was carved off the ARL the SRP has been taken off the hands of the various national unions and given its own body. Both RA and NZRU have infighting that has both historically, presently a d now not in the future made it a challenge.
mjseesred
Roar Rookie
Bundy Bear for RA chairman.
mjseesred
Roar Rookie
Mesley from outside rugby and wait, from the doggies (NRL). Hope he reached out to Raelene to find out how to avoid the knives in the back. I am sure it would be watch Ruperts minions.