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Thread: 'Been sick for years': Wallabies great savages Rugby Australia 'train smash'

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    Legend Contributor brokendown gunfighter's Avatar
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    Geez there have been a few noses put out of joint over at GAGR on Nicks article about Australian rugby

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    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by brokendown gunfighter View Post
    Geez there have been a few noses put out of joint over at GAGR on Nicks article about Australian rugby
    link?

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    C'mon the

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    Legend Contributor brokendown gunfighter's Avatar
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    link left years ago

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    Seems the mud slinging is only allowed one way, they get rather petulant when it starts bouncing back.

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    By Georgina Robinson
    April 3, 2020 — 7.05pm
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    Embattled Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle will survive the coronavirus crisis but faces an uncertain future beyond that, along with the rest of the game in Australia.

    Castle retained the full support of the RA board at the end of the most difficult and tumultuous week in the game's history, in which 75 per cent of the game's non-player workforce were stood down, a pay cut stand-off turned ugly with the country's 192 professional players and a small but powerful group of former players began agitating for change at the top.

    Rugby Australia chairman Paul McLean came to the defence of his embattled chief executive Raelene Castle.
    Rugby Australia chairman Paul McLean came to the defence of his embattled chief executive Raelene Castle. CREDIT:JAMES ALCOCK
    Reports emerged on Friday that personnel changes on the RA board could see Castle sacked over the weekend, but interim chairman Paul McLean said, despite daily board meetings link-ups week, there was no plot to topple the game's under-fire chief executive.

    "We had a board discussion prior to Christmas and we indicated to her then she had 100 per cent board support and the board has not been back to talk about Raelene's position since," McLean told the Herald.
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    Rugby Australia chairman Paul McLean.
    Rugby Australia chairman Paul McLean.
    "We are quite legitimately spending all our time looking at the business. I can guarantee that the focus of our daily board meetings is 100 per cent on cash flow and cash flow alone. That's the position we're in.

    "Raelene has our absolute support."

    The board's last link-up was on Thursday night, and McLean said there was no inkling of a coup, including after addition of the three new directors, former Wallaby Daniel Herbert, Supercars chairman Peter Wiggs and Virgin Australia founder Brett Godfrey. No directors contacted by the Herald on Friday responded to enquiries.

    "There's always things happening on the edges in rugby and nefarious forces at play," McLean said. "The three new directors have had their shoulder to the wheel on our cash flow problems and the implications of that. None of the three of them have raised anything to do with Raelene.

    "We are quite genuinely looking only at the business. Things could change - the game could look completely different next year, there may not be the need for all the people doing what they're doing now in rugby, will there be a need for state unions or all the agreements we have in place right now? This is a genuinely game-changing moment.

    "But at this point in time we are in the crux of some critical discussions around a whole bunch of things domestically and internationally and Raelene is at the forefront of that."

    A senior executive said the new directors had rolled up their sleeves at the start of the week and were adding "enormous value" to rugby's pressing cash flow concerns.

    'There's always things happening on the edges in rugby and nefarious forces at play.'
    Rugby Australia interim chairman Paul McLean
    Yet there was no end in sight to the increasingly bitter stalemate between the players union and head office, with RA adamant it would not cede ground on handing over its financial modelling and the Rugby Union Players Association voicing their frustration in response.

    "At a time when governing bodies in the other major football codes have been open and transparent with their players RA continues to refuse our requests," RUPA boss Justin Harrison said in a statement.

    "Australia’s Professional Rugby Players are awaiting the delivery of, and the opportunity to analyse, information detailing Rugby Australia’s financial position. This has not been provided.

    "The Rugby Union Players Association again emphasises the need for an open and collaborative approach from RA before we can properly understand our role in Australian rugby’s restructure, for both short and long term transformation.

    "Our players approach this long-term transformation with a collegiate and team approach and with an acknowledgement the game has to change.

    "That is why RUPA is again respectfully requesting the financial data to fully digest before returning to the table for open and honest negotiations. We see no reasons why RA refuses to engage, despite the provision of protection under a non-disclosure agreement."

    On top of rugby's balance sheet and player problems, Castle and the board appear to have stoked the ire of a group of influential former Wallabies. Respected Fox Sports analyst and RA elite coaching development adviser Rod Kafer led the charge this week proclaiming, in a widely reported interview, that "rugby was sick a long time before the coronavirus came along".

    Former Wallabies captain and RA director George Gregan added his "sadness" at the state of the game and World Cup-winning former hooker Phil Kearns, who lost out to Castle when she was appointed Bill Pulver's replacement by unanimous vote two years ago, said it was obvious the game "has not progressed".

    Recent former Wallabies captains endorsed Kafer's comments on Linkedin, with Stephen Moore saying "spot on Rod Kafer" and James Horwill liking Moore's post.

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    The game also has no broadcast deal locked in after rejecting an early Foxtel offer for less money and choosing to take its five-year rights offering to market.

    Telco Optus, in partnership with Ten, was poised to swoop until the coronavirus crisis hit, with both businesses agreeing to put talks on hold for six months.

    The circumstances have been painted as a blunder by Castle's critics, despite Foxtel facing solvency issues of its own amid the challenges of subscriber loss, a heavy debt burden and the sudden shutdown of professional sport globally

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  6. #21
    Veteran valzc's Avatar
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    We had a board discussion prior to Christmas and we indicated to her then she had 100 per cent board support and the board has not been back to talk about Raelene's position since," McLean told the Herald.
    Bwahahahahaha!....... there’s the death knell again.

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  7. #22
    Veteran SNOB's Avatar
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    Another RA clusterf@ck!

    Exclusive: Embarrassing contract gaffe cost RA massive payout for Wallabies legend

    RUGBY
    Christy Doran
    April 3, 2020 9:27pm
    CHRISTY DORAN@christypdoran
    Source: FOX SPORTS
    Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle allegedly turned on Stephen Larkham, accusing the former Wallabies assistant of acting in bad faith.
    Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle allegedly turned on Stephen Larkham, accusing the former Wallabies assistant of acting in bad faith.
    Source: Getty Images
    Exclusive: In yet another shambolic clerical error, sources say that Rugby Australia was forced to pay Wallabies hall of famer Stephen Larkham hundreds of thousands of dollars after then-coach Michael Cheika sacked him as his assistant in late 2018.

    On top of that, it is alleged that CEO Raelene Castle later sought legal advice against the 1999 World Cup-winning playmaker for acting in bad faith, foxsports.com.au can reveal.

    Yet, recognising that the governing body didn’t have a leg to stand on, the cash-strapped union pulled back and instead were left red faced as Larkham was reshuffled throughout the business, which included RA inadvertently including a trip with his family to Hong Kong and Singapore for coaching with underprivileged junior players.

    The developments come just days after RA revealed a $9.4 million deficit from 2019 and were forced on Tuesday to make “the toughest decision in the game’s history” by standing down 75 per cent of their operating staff.

    That deficit blowout was in large part a result of the contract dispute with dual international Israel Folau, who RA was forced to settle with on a multi-million pay out earlier this year after yet another contract blunder as they sought to sack the star Wallaby for his social media activity.


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    Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle has been in the job since early 2018.
    Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle has been in the job since early 2018.
    Source: AAP
    The Larkham debacle centred on his contract with RA, which was signed under Castle’s predecessor Bill Pulver.

    After more than two years combining his head coaching responsibilities with the Brumbies and Wallabies as an assistant coach under Michael Cheika, which included a World Cup Final in 2015, RA sought to move their assistant coaches into a full-time coaching role with the national team from mid-2017 and beyond.

    But rather than including a three-month termination period in his contract as was standard practice, sources confirm that RA mistakenly included a one-year termination clause in his contract.

    That meant that should Larkham be sacked before his three-year deal ran out after the 2019 World Cup, he would still be entitled to a full year’s salary.

    It’s believed that Larkham was on a deal worth between $400,000 and $500,000 each year despite some sources claiming he was on closer to half that number and others closer to $700,000.

    The year-long termination clause was previously included in Cheika’s contract, who had fought for an increase for security reasons in 2016, but ended up in Larkham’s because RA’s in-house lawyers used the same template as the national coach’s contract and forgot to change it from 12 months back to three months before he received the paperwork, sources have told foxsports.com.au.

    Stephen Larkham was Michael Cheika’s assistant coach on the way to the 2015 World Cup Final.
    Stephen Larkham was Michael Cheika’s assistant coach on the way to the 2015 World Cup Final.
    Source: Supplied
    Going through the contract one final time with a fine tooth comb, RA’s in-house lawyers recognised the blunder and sought it to be changed at the last minute. But, it’s alleged that Larkham had already agreed terms, saying that these were the terms and conditions and he wouldn’t budge that his contract’s termination period be sliced down to three months.

    RA accepted.

    That, however, came back to bite RA and Castle when Cheika – hanging on by the skin of his teeth after the Wallabies’ worst year on record since 1958 – presented to the board in December 2018 that he wanted to make some staff changes, which he thought would help take the team forward into the crucial World Cup year.

    At that point however, Cheika wasn’t given a sign off to make any changes to his coaching staff yet.

    On the back of the December 10 board meeting, where Cheika was retained as coach but had his totalitarian influence reeled in by the pending announcement of Scott Johnson to sit above him in 2019 in the newly created role of Director of Rugby, the national coach assembled his assistants and met them at Sydney Airport days later.

    Cheika then – without clearance from human resources – sacked Larkham, who he had previously anointed as his heir apparent.

    Michael Cheika (R) sacked Stephen Larkham without RA CEO Raelene Castle’s approval in December 2018.
    Michael Cheika (R) sacked Stephen Larkham without RA CEO Raelene Castle’s approval in December 2018.
    Source: AFP
    Castle, who didn’t want Larkham sacked, first heard the news at the Rugby Australia Christmas Party and was ropeable, sources say.

    Believing that Cheika’s estimated million-dollar deal was worth more than Larkham’s and that the board had backed the head coach, Castle took the view that the assistant coach was cheaper to sack, according to sources.

    However, Castle underestimated Larkham’s one-year termination clause – a factor that not even Cheika was aware of.

    It’s understood Castle then hung Larkham out to dry, accusing him of acting in bad faith, even though the terms and conditions of his deal were signed by both parties with the one-year termination clause included.

    RA then had to decide whether to pay his entire one-year salary out, and receive nothing back, or reshuffle him throughout the business until finding another job elsewhere.

    Left with little alternative, and on the advice of in-house lawyers, RA opted to move Larkham, who Castle had previously valued highly, into a newly-created national high performance coach adviser role within the organisation, where he would remain on the same salary as he had been on with the Wallabies.

    Rugby Australia photocopied part of Michael Cheika’s contract and sent it to Stephen Larkham without editing the termination clause.
    Rugby Australia photocopied part of Michael Cheika’s contract and sent it to Stephen Larkham without editing the termination clause.
    Source: Getty Images
    On February 4, more than a month after he was let go by Cheika, RA made the announcement that Larkham was transitioning to a different role within the company.

    At the time, Castle — with Johnson as DOR acting as a mediator — said that they were pleased Larkham had accepted the role and would “also look to support Stephen in his transition into another Head Coach role.”

    During such time, Larkham spent time with the Junior Wallabies, who had their best result at an under-20s World Cup by going within a point of the title, helped the Wallaroos post their maiden win in Australia and is said to have spent some valuable, albeit brief, time with the respective Sevens programs.

    RA were relieved when Larkham signed with Irish club Munster in June because it meant they didn’t have to pay out his entire one-year salary.

    But even when he signed for Munster, Larkham was still entitled to receive another three months of his salary because of the clause mistake made under Pulver’s administration.

    In total, it’s believed Larkham was paid approximately $300,000 in 2019 before he was off the books in September.

    But that figure would have been less than half that had RA properly drafted his termination period of three months rather than 12 in his contract.

    Stephen Larkham helped the Junior Wallabies reach the under-20s World Cup in 2019 after being reshuffled into a National High Performance role. Photo: Rugby AU Media/Stuart Walmsley
    Stephen Larkham helped the Junior Wallabies reach the under-20s World Cup in 2019 after being reshuffled into a National High Performance role. Photo: Rugby AU Media/Stuart Walmsley
    Source: News Corp Australia
    Insiders have told foxsports.com.au that Larkham was willing to settle for a lot less and is one of the most honest people in the game, but after having his integrity questioned by Castle, was left furious.

    RA were approached but chose not to comment, while Foxsports.com.au has been unable to reach Larkham.

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  8. #23
    Immortal Contributor The InnFORCEr's Avatar
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    Just a complete clusterfuck.

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    Champion SPaRTAN's Avatar
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    This really does paint the true picture of just how shambolic this organisation is. Almost every major decision they seem to make is a clusterf*ck.

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    Champion SPaRTAN's Avatar
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    Reports saying Raelene may be gone by the end of the weekend.

    Rugby Australia set to axe CEO Raelene Castle and bring in former skipper Phil Kearns

    https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/...5f42727b53ad70

    APRIL 4, 20208:02am

    FOXSPORTS1:55
    Raelene Castle calls on Rugby fans
    Rugby: Under fire Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle calls on rugby fans to help the code survive financially.
    news.com.au

    Time looks to have run out on Raelene Castle’s tenure as Rugby Australia CEO.

    Reports have indicated Castle was on the outer over the past few days and now it appears former Wallabies skipper Phil Kearns is set to take her place, according to The Daily Telegraph.

    Rugby Australia was widely condemned for its unjustified self-praise during Monday’s annual general meeting, where it announced a 72 per cent performance rating for 2019. In the same meeting, RA declared a preliminary $9.4 million loss for the financial year.


    During a 12-month period which featured a lacklustre Rugby World Cup performance, the Israel Folau saga, drastically low attendance numbers and several high-profile players abandoning the Super Rugby competition, a 72 per cent rating seems unreasonably high.

    The past 12 months has culminated in growing frustration among powerbrokers with those in charge at RA, with the final nail in the coffin for Castle being the failed bid to secure a new broadcast deal.

    Kearns initially missed out on the top role back in 2017, but reports indicate he has the backing to take on the job when he’s free to do so in 2021.

    RELATED: Alan Jones savages ‘headless chook’ Castle

    Kearns is the man marked to take over from Castle.
    Kearns is the man marked to take over from Castle.Source:Getty Images

    A growing fracture between RA and the Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) has caused added turmoil as the two sides look to reach an agreement during the coronavirus shutdown.

    Clubs could follow in the A-League’s footsteps and stand down their playing groups if an agreement isn’t reached in a fast enough time. A statement from RUPA laid bare the ugly breakdown in their talks.


    “Australia’s professional rugby players are awaiting the delivery of, and the opportunity to analyse, information detailing Rugby Australia’s financial position. This has not been provided.

    “The Rugby Union Players Association again emphasises the need for an open and collaborative approach from RA before we can properly understand our role in Australian rugby’s restructure, for both short and long term transformation.”

    Castle denied the claims made by the Association by stating the documents in question had been provided.

    “We believe the information we have shared, including information on future cash projections, provides the players with enough information to develop a position,” Castle said.

    Reports indicate Castle may be lucky to survive the weekend

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  11. #26
    Immortal Contributor shasta's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The InnFORCEr View Post
    Just a complete clusterfuck.
    A bit harsh. You have to consider that RA were trying to run a major sports organisation with a skeleton staff of only 120.

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    Quote Originally Posted by SPaRTAN View Post
    This really does paint the true picture of just how shambolic this organisation is. Almost every major decision they seem to make is a clusterf*ck.
    Yeah it is atrocious. It annoys me that people are saying that News Corp are deliberately putting out negative articles to reduce what they pay. Georgina Robinson is writing the same thing in the SMH and Nine aren’t bidding so she has no skin when it comes down to that.

    Paul Cully has been stood down which is a shame as he one of the few good journos in this part of the world. Even with no matches there is a lot going on.

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  13. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by shasta View Post
    A bit harsh. You have to consider that RA were trying to run a major sports organisation with a skeleton staff of only 120.
    Pure gold.

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  14. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bakkies View Post
    Yeah it is atrocious. It annoys me that people are saying that News Corp are deliberately putting out negative articles to reduce what they pay. Georgina Robinson is writing the same thing in the SMH and Nine aren’t bidding so she has no skin when it comes down to that.

    Paul Cully has been stood down which is a shame as he one of the few good journos in this part of the world. Even with no matches there is a lot going on.
    Sounds like former employees of the RA leaking inside blunders like this to the press.

    Grab the pop corn!

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    Raelene Castle or Phil Kearns? I know which one I'd rather have! (If I had to!)

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