Rugby Australia has taken the first tentative step towards repairing relations with the game's grass roots by nominating a Shute Shield president to fill one of three vacant board seats.
The nominations committee has put forward Gordon president Hayden Rorke and Australian Rugby Foundation chairman John Wilson. Raelene Castle, as recently-appointed RA chief executive, will take the third seat, replacing her predecessor Bill Pulver. RA members will vote on the nominations at the next AGM on April 9.
Repairing relations: Rugby Australia chief Raelene Castle.
Photo: Brook Mitchell
Rorke's nomination is a clear attempt to bring club rugby in Brisbane and Sydney back into the fold after a damaging period under Pulver, during which time the Sydney presidents, in particular, were in open mutiny against head office.
The current board last year survived a grassroots push to vote out all directors, when the Sydney club identities behind the campaign failed to attract wider support. The appointment of Castle, a New Zealand sports administrator with experience in rugby league and netball, was seen as the circuit breaker in that instance.
It is also tangible evidence that RA intends to honour a commitment made last year when it announced Australia would lose a Super Rugby team.
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SYDNEY MORNING HERALD
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