BREAKING: Rugby Australia chairman told to resign by states, EGM looms with ‘gloves off’
Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan says he won’t bow to pressure to resign despite a move against his leadership on Friday evening. But he might have to.
After weeks of working in the shadows, six state unions, led by Queensland Rugby Union chairman Brett Clark, made a move against McLennan and urged him to stand aside following a disastrous year, which culminated in the Wallabies missing the World Cup finals for the first time.
Clark was supported by ACT Rugby, Rugby WA, NT Rugby, Tasmania Rugby, South Australia Rugby when the Queensland chair phoned McLennan to inform his counterpart of their position.
McLennan, who last month told The Roar he is “not a quitter”, rejected the request.
“This is divisive by nature and pits state against state, parochialism over unity and centralisation,” McLennan told The Roar on Friday night.
Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan has been urged to stand aside. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images for Rugby Australia)
McLennan is not out of the woods yet, with the states able to call an Extraordinary General Meeting. It will only take two state unions to call an EGM.
He has been given until 5pm AEST on Saturday to stand aside, with sources telling The Roar “the gloves are off”.
If the states do call an EGM, RA must hold the meeting within 60 days where a vote would take place to determine whether there is a change of leadership.