The people who have led Australian rugby into crisis must be held to account

Save articles for later

Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.

My son has been on a two-week school rugby tour in France to watch the Wallabies at the World Cup.

He was at the horror 40-6 defeat to Wales in Lyon on Sunday (Monday AEST) and told me that every time Eddie Jones appeared on the big screen, the crowd booed and that Wallabies fans were visibly furious after the game. It was a sombre atmosphere.

It is not a great way for a Wallabies coach to be treated, even if results haven’t been great, but I think it shows where we are with rugby in this country.

What effect does all this have on the other schoolchildren who were there, and the young fans back home? Australia’s near-certain failure to make a World Cup quarter-final for the first time will be devastating for them.

As someone who loves the game, watching Wallabies supporters – who have paid thousands of dollars to be in France – walk out before the game was over was very difficult viewing.

There is no doubt in my mind that Hamish McLennan’s position as Rugby Australia chairman should be under serious review. To be clear, he is not the only one.

Rob Valetini and the Wallabies digest the record loss to Wales.Credit: AP

This is not coming from a place of hate; I am speaking out because I want to see Australian rugby prosper.

It is about time someone took responsibility. The big question is, who?

After the Wallabies’ heaviest defeat to Wales and their likely exit from the World Cup at the pool stage, the game in this country is in crisis. It is scary we have to reach the bottom to understand we’re in trouble. It’s about time people were held accountable through KPIs.

Kids have to want to be Wallabies. Do they now?

Eddie Jones was booed every time he appeared on the screen in Lyon.Credit: AP

I’ve been trying to warn influential figures in the game but my cries have fallen on deaf ears. I’ve met McLennan and told him the problems. For the past five years, I have travelled Australia to coach kids and try to make a difference, as I’ve seen the decline in skills and coaching at grassroots. I’ve been to Emerald, Roma, Townsville. You name the town, I’ve been there and I’ve loved it. Rugby is alive and well in country areas.

I ask the kids after training to name their favourite Wallaby. Most of them can’t name one player. We want to hear less from McLennan and more about the players.

Things started to unravel about the time of the Israel Folau saga, when Australian rugby lost plenty of supporters. No one was held accountable for that and there is an alarming lack of accountability for this new crisis.

People criticise me for being loud with my opinions, but it’s because I love rugby and want it to prosper in this country. Australian rugby has cancelled me, but I’ve never changed my views from day one.

If Eddie Jones leaves Australian rugby with four years remaining on his deal, McLennan must be held responsible. You could argue no one could have known Jones would do this. Regardless, an early Jones departure after so much upheaval to get him in the job would be a sledgehammer blow to the game.

In May, Jones told the Evening Standard Rugby Podcast: “[If] we win the World Cup, it will be time to go. If we lose the World Cup, it will be time to go.”

After the Wales game, Jones threatened to walk out of a press conference if reporters kept asking questions about his interview with the Japan rugby federation, which from all reports is true. Are we, the rugby public, expected to be taken for idiots?

I can’t blame Jones solely for what happened, but I can blame the system. Wallabies fans like myself are devastated they are not winning and that Australian rugby is not thriving.

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan.Credit: Steven Siewert

The RA board is not showing accountability, and it feels like McLennan is untouchable.

Why can’t we have a system, similar to soccer club Barcelona, where members join with a fee – let’s say $100 – and get a vote to elect the board? Fans don’t have any direct influence, and as a former Wallaby, I don’t have any say in the direction of the game in this country.

Jones is very passionate and one of the hardest-working coaches I’ve seen. You cannot dispute his commitment to the cause.

I was trolled on my social media accounts for being critical of Jones lately. Sticking up for what you believe in also comes at a cost.

This is a crucial moment for the game in this country and reform is needed. It starts at the top.

Watch all the action from the Rugby World Cup 2023 on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Every match streaming ad-free, live and in 4K UHD with replays, mini matches and highlights available on demand.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

Most Viewed in Sport

From our partners

Source: Read Full Article