Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle Resigns

Rugby Australia chief executive officer, Raelene Castle has officially resigned after being told she had lost the support of the board.

This decision comes after Castle was the main receiver of Rugby Australia criticism over the past couple of years, but increasingly through Rugby Australia’s management of the legal battle with Israel Folau, failure to reach a broadcast deal, a poor World Cup performance, reporting a large financial loss in 2019 and inability to restructure their finances.

Saying goodbye to Rugby Australia after two and a half years at the helm, Castle said she was told Rugby Australia needed “clear air.”

“I love rugby on every level, and I will always love the code and the people I have had the honour of working with since I took this role,” Castle said.

“I made it clear to the board that I would stand up and take the flak and do everything possible to serve everyone’s best interests.

“In the last couple of hours, it has been made clear to me that the board believes my no longer being CEO would help give them the clear air they believe they need.

“The game is bigger than any one individual, so this evening, I told the chair (Paul McLean) that I would resign from the role.

“I will do whatever is needed to ensure an orderly handover.

“I wish the code and everyone who loves rugby nothing but the best and I would like to thank the people I work with and the broader rugby community for their enormous support,” she said.

The reported tipping point for Castle came this week with eleven former Wallabies captains co-signing a letter calling for Rugby Australia’s administration to step aside following an extended period of mismanagement.