Statement From Wallaby Captains The State of Australian Rugby

As Wallaby Captains we feel privileged to have represented our country and led our respective teams into battle, facing difficult situations together.

We lost some but we won many. Win or lose, every time we pulled on the gold jersey we were driven by the desire to earn the respect of Australian supporters across the country and around the world. We wanted them to be proud of Australian rugby and what Australian rugby stood for.

In recent times, the Australian game has lost its way. It is a defeat inflicted not by COVID-19, or an on-field foe, but rather by poor administration and leadership over a number of years.

Our rural clubs, junior clubs, sub-districts and community clubs have been let down and we firmly believe transformation is needed across the game in this country. There’s no time to waste.

We speak as one voice when we say Australian rugby needs new vision, leadership and a plan for the future. That plan must involve, as a priority, urgent steps to create a much-needed sustainable, commercial rugby business.

No doubt there are now good people with good ideas and we must include them in the renewal. There has also been considerable work done in the background to quickly establish a list of urgent initiatives and action items.

A number of highly experienced rugby and business leaders are standing by to mentor and lead.

To begin with those positive influences and a blank sheet of paper is an ideal starting point.

With this in mind we seek:

1. The release of the numerous reviews into Australian Rugby and the establishment of a cabinet to implement the best recommendations from those reviews.

2. The convening of a Special General Meeting, no later than April 30 2020, to table the 2019 annual accounts and any other business put before that meeting.

Australian rugby deserves a better future. Our schools and clubs are populated with an army of amazing mums and dads and volunteers, and players of all shapes and sizes, who must have a game run for them.

Our youth deserve to be inspired. They need to see a pathway and to feel a connection with the Wallaby jersey.

It is with this in mind we ask the current administration to heed our call and stand aside to allow the game to be transformed so we emerge from this pandemic with a renewed sense of unity and purpose.

There is only one question that needs to be answered at club level, at state level and at national level:

Is this decision in the best interests of Australian rugby?

Only when we can answer that question openly, honestly and transparently at all levels can we restore Australian Rugby to greatness.

Signed:

Simon Poidevin Nick Farr-Jones Rod McCall Jason Little George Smith Stephen Moore