RugbyWA Urges Support For New ARU Chairman
Wednesday, May 02, 2007 4:03pm
RugbyWA
The following is a statement from RugbyWA Chairman Geoff Stooke on behalf of RugbyWA.
“After only five days in the job, the new Australian Rugby Union Chairman Peter McGrath is already the subject of unfair criticism.
In a report in today’s The Australian newspaper, comments were made suggesting McGrath was not the right man to take the game forward and that he was there by default. This is not the case.
McGrath is not from New South Wales nor Queensland. He is the Managing Partner of a Canberra legal firm and from 1999 to 2005 was Chairman of the ACT Brumbies. During this time the Brumbies won two Super 12 competitions and set the benchmark for Super 12 rugby in Australia. Since his retirement from the ACT Brumbies Board, he has been on the Board of the ARU.
This background would seem to provide excellent credentials for the Chairmanship of the ARU and his appointment to the Chairmanship was unanimously supported by his fellow ARU Board members.
Suggestions in the newspaper report that various high profile businessmen would be keen to take on the Chairmanship but were reluctant to put themselves forward because of the ‘constitutional’ process is hard to understand. The process is very straight forward – NSW and QLD can nominate two people for election and the other states combined can nominate one. Two independents are appointed, and the Chief Executive and the Player Representative complete the Board. Vacancies on the Board saw three quality candidates elected on the weekend.
It is very easy to criticise those prepared to take on positions such as Chairman of the ARU or other pseudo voluntary roles in rugby. It is a lot more difficult to assume one of these positions of responsibility and give it the time and energy required.
Rugby is in better shape than the way it is often portrayed in the media but there is still work to be done. Endless criticism of those charged with the responsibility to address the issues only harms the game and makes it all the more difficult to go forward.
It is time for all those who genuinely have the interest of the game at heart to get behind the new Chairman, Board and Management of the ARU together with all those involved at state level. We have Test matches, the Tri-Nations competition, the Australian Rugby Championship and the World Cup ahead of us. These should be our focus and not the driving of personal agendas and endless negative comments and criticism.”
