0
By Bret Harris
The ARU will seize on the federal government's push for better governance in sport to start a revolution in the way the game is administered in this country.
New governance principles for sporting organisations released by Sports Minister Kate Lundy could spell the end of rugby's outdated way of running the sport.
The guidelines, prepared by the Australian Sports Commission, emphasise independent governance and best-practice business protocols.
Sources within the ARU indicated there was strong support for a change to the old-fashioned federated body, which is out of step with modern sporting governance such as the AFL commission.
While the ARU is run by a board, the directors are elected by delegates from the states, with a strong bias towards New South Wales and Queensland.
Last December, ARU chairman Peter McGrath said it was time for rugby to consider an independent commission.
The ARU may ask the government to undertake or fund a review into rugby's governance.
The issue will be raised at the ARU's annual general meeting in Sydney next Friday.
"The ARU is currently reviewing the government's announcement regarding best-practice corporate governance and what it means for Australian rugby," an ARU spokesman said.
"We intend to address the issue at our AGM next Friday. Until we have assessed today's announcement and then discussed the issue at the upcoming board meeting, it would be inappropriate to speculate on any course of action that may be taken."
Victorian Rugby Union chairman Tim North said Australian rugby did not need to move towards an AFL-style commission, but agreed rugby needed to reform its archaic voting system, which was weighted heavily in favour of the two major unions, NSW and Queensland.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/pu...-1226334009168