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http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...-time-in-2013/
Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill has revealed he'll stand down from his post at the end of his contract in two years.
In the wake of the Wallabies' semi-final elimination at the World Cup, O'Neill said on Tuesday he would not continue on beyond the end of 2013 - six months after the British and Irish Lions tour Australia.
It will be the second time the ARU's CEO and managing director will move on from the role after leaving rugby in 2004 and then guiding the operations of Football Federation Australia.
O'Neill and the ARU board had controversially recontracted Wallabies coach Robbie Deans for a further two years before the quadrennial tournament so the New Zealander could take his young side through to the Lions tour.
With calls coming for successful Queensland Reds coach Ewen McKenzie to take the reins, and Deans indicating he wants to remain at the helm, O'Neill absolved himself from the decision-making process.
He said there was a succession plan in place but it was for his own successor, likely to be anointed earlier in 2013, to choose to activate.
"That won't be my call," O'Neill said in Auckland. "My contract is up at the end of 2013 and it will not be a decision that will involve me.
"If I'd left as originally intended, 30 June next year, I would not have involved myself in Robbie's extension - that was in agreement with the board.
"The board that is in situ for 2013 will be making those calls and I'll be preparing to ride off, probably much to the relief of some people, into the sunset and it would be inappropriate for me to be involved in that."
O'Neill was proud of the effort of the Wallabies in their World Cup campaign despite a 20-6 semi-final thumping by the All Blacks and disappointing pool loss to Ireland.
He said the heroic 11-9 quarter-final victory over South Africa captured the nation's attention and provided a 3.3 million viewing audience for the semi-final - the biggest since the 2003 tournament final loss to England in Sydney.
"It's not a successful campaign but the board from the outset said the pass mark was making the semis, so we've got a pass mark," he said.
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Originally Posted by WF1964
