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At some point someone will stand back a few paces and think about what they've done in appointing a CEO like this. ie ask the question "WTF have we done?"
Her stated aim was to become head of the NZRU after she parted company with the Bulldogs.
So the ARU Board appoint her to CEO of the ARU; brilliant. Is it just another job on her way to something better? This is not a normal corporate role; you need to be passionately invested in the game and focussed on nurturing the roots.
The CEO of the ARU must be Australian and have a solid track record in community rugby as well as a corporate background with appropriate tertiary qualifications. The main reason quoted why Ms Castle was appointed was that she had good media skills and the other candidates didn't ; give me a break. Who else were they considering ? Ronald McDonald and Humphry B Bear?
At any stage, the CEO and Board must openly acknowledge that the mum who manages the U10's at an Adelaide club, the 64 year old who coaches 3rd grade at a Townsville club, the guy with a sore knee who referees the lowest grade in Sydney subbies, the lady who's been the secretary / registrar at a Darwin club for the past 20 years and the teacher who's coached rugby at his school for more years than he can remember are just as important as any ARU Board member and are all a vital part of Australian rugby then the ARU are stuffed.
It is also not about the top 50 players and how much they get paid. As a rule, Australian rugby players have no sense of duty to the community and are there to get their snouts in the trough if they can jostle ARU Board members out of the way. Until this changes the ARU are stuffed. There a few exceptions and Nathan Sharpe would be amongst those.
The current Board must do the right thing and walk. Whilst they are there, the sore will continue to fester.