O'Neill steps down as ARU chief

Updated October 12, 2012 13:55:13

John O'Neill has stood down as chief executive of the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) after a collective 14 years as the code's top administrator.

He was due to step down from running Australian rugby in 2013, but is now going a year early and will finish at the ARU at the end of the month.

O'Neill said his age, 61, and a 25-year run as a chief executive in sport and banking influenced his decision to leave the ARU and continue as a non executive chairman of casino management group Echo International.

The experienced sports administrator will continue to work with the ARU as its representative on the International Rugby Board (IRB) and as board member of the Rugby World Cup planning the 2015 tournaments in England and Japan respectively.

O'Neill held the position of ARU chief executive from 1995 to 2003, overseeing a golden period of Australian rugby which culminated in the Wallabies' 1999 World Cup win, before hosting the showpiece event in 2003.

The ARU forced O'Neill out in 2004, but reappointed him in 2007 after a stint with Football Federation of Australia where he oversaw the introduction of the A-League and the Socceroos qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in 34 years.

O'Neill's second stint with the ARU saw the appointment of Robbie Deans as coach, who guided the Wallabies to a Tri-Nations title in 2011, before losing to New Zealand in the 2011 Rugby World Cup semi-final.

Although expressing regret the Wallabies have slipped somewhat from the top of the world rugby tree he is proud of what they achieved under his reign.

"The Wallabies are an iconic team, I'm sorry they are not number one but hope fully they will get there," O'Neill told reporters.

ARU deputy chief executive Matt Carroll, who worked under O'Neill at the ARU and FFA, will act as caretaker while a global search is conducted for O'Neill's replacement.

O'Neill says he believes his successor will be able to lift Australian rugby to new heights.

"I am honoured during my second term at the ARU to have played a role in shaping the transformation of the game," he said.

"Australian Rugby has a rich culture and a proud history, but we have also been working to rapidly modernise and evolve the game.

"I believe the key planks necessary to drive that development are in place, allowing my successor to build on the solid foundations rugby enjoys and take it to the next level of success.

"There are other challenges for me to pursue outside the game now, although my involvement at an IRB and Rugby World Cup level will ensure I have a strong ongoing connection."

ARU chairman Michael Hawker said O'Neill had been a committed servant to the game and had laid the foundations for an important phase in Australian rugby.

"John has been a great servant of rugby in Australia over two decades and has achieved the key objectives of a five-year strategic plan since re-joining the ARU in 2007," Hawker said.

"John’s resignation enables the board to put in place new leadership to build on that platform and to drive our substantial agenda over the next five years, while enabling John to focus on his broader business interests."

Tags: rugby-union, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, australia

First posted October 12, 2012 10:07:02

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Force chief steps aside

Updated October 12, 2012 21:17:02

Western Force chief executive Vern Reid has announced he will leave the club on the back of a disappointing 2012 Super Rugby season.

Reid held the position since 2009 and his departure follows a tumultuous year in which both captain David Pocock and coach Richard Graham left the struggling franchise.

The Force finished last in the Australian conference and 14th overall on the Super Rugby ladder in 2012 and will be coached by Michael Foley next season.

Reid will continue in the role until a new chief executive has been appointed.

Tags: rugby-union, sport, super-rugby, perth-6000

First posted October 12, 2012 21:17:02

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Sharpe puts retirement on hold again

Updated October 11, 2012 16:02:27

Wallabies caretaker captain Nathan Sharpe has made himself available for the tour of Europe beginning next month.

The 34-year-old Sharpe had initially announced he would be retiring at the end of the Super Rugby season but due to the Wallabies' depleted second row stocks he was asked to continue his international career.

He captained the Wallabies in their final three Tests of the Rugby Championship, in the absence of injured trio James Horwill (hamstring), David Pocock (knee) and Will Genia (knee).

Sharpe will also lead the Wallabies in this month's Bledisloe Cup encounter in Brisbane prior to the overseas Tests against France, England, Italy and Wales.

"Playing for Australia is something I have never taken for granted," Sharpe said in a statement.

"As such, to be asked to continue beyond the deadline I had set for myself was both flattering but also a request that was very difficult to turn down.

"I have never known a season where the Wallabies have faced such adversity as we have this year. To show the spirit and character that the team has is a mark of how the group has grown, both individually and collectively, and I have enjoyed playing my part in that."

Sharpe become the Wallabies' most-capped forward when he took the field against Argentina in Rosario last Sunday (AEST) in the 25-19 victory over the Pumas.

He is the Wallabies' second most-capped player with 111 Test appearances.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, australia

First posted October 11, 2012 16:02:27

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Beale makes his case as Wallabies' 10

Updated October 07, 2012 17:43:14

Just four weeks after being dropped to the bench for a second time in three Tests, Kurtley Beale highlighted his remarkable turnaround by piloting the Wallabies to a savoured South American success.

Beale, relishing his time as Wallabies playmaker, ensured he will remain in the number 10 Test jersey for at least another match after Australia's 25-19 win over Argentina in Rosario.

With close amigos James O'Connor and Quade Cooper still recovering from injuries, the 23-year-old is now a strong chance of finishing 2012 as the first-choice five-eighth.

He will line up there against the All Blacks in the third Bledisloe Test in Brisbane on October 20 in what will be a tougher test of his talents.

But under immense pressure and in tough, slippery conditions where almost every other player made handling errors, Beale showed his playmaking class to take control of a young, patched-up backline.

Retiring Pumas great Rodrigo Roncero was announced to the 41,000-capacity Rosario crowd as the man-of-the-match, but there was little doubt Beale was the most influential player.

He showed great composure, kicked well, looked dangerous each time he attacked and laid on a try from the top shelf for Digby Ioane.

Rookie centre Ben Tapuai, a decoy for Ioane's well-worked try as Beale fooled the Pumas' midfield defence, was rapt to be running lines two wide of Beale.

"Mate, it was awesome," Tapuai said.

"Just his talent, it lifts everyone up just a notch.

"He helped me with his chat and his skills.

"That ball he gave to Digby was world-class. It was unbelievable."

Coach Robbie Deans also singled out halves partner Nick Phipps for controlling the game with Beale as Australia's forwards proved far more aggressive and efficient at the breakdown than in the 31-8 loss to South Africa a week earlier.

"Kurtley was very good," Deans said. "He's a class act."

Prop Ben Alexander said the Wallabies knew they in for a special reception from the exactable Estadio Gigante de Arroyito crowd when the steep stands were already packed as they started their warm-up.

"It was unreal, the atmosphere incredible," he said.

"It would have been very easy for us to lose our cool and lose our heads.

"The humid weather and narrow pitch really didn't suit the way we wanted to play but I really thought it was a big step up for us."

AAP

Tags: rugby-union, sport, argentina, australia

First posted October 07, 2012 17:43:14

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Force announce coaching staff

Updated October 08, 2012 13:42:58

Western Force have added to their staff to work under head coach Michael Foley in 2013.

The Force have appointed former Bath coach Steve Meehan as backs/attack coach, while former Queensland Reds consultant Phillip Fowler will join the franchise as a strategist.

Chris Webb, who worked with Foley at the Waratahs, has also been named as the Force's high performance general manager.

The trio will work alongside Foley and forwards coach Nick Stiles.

Meehan graduated from the Brisbane club coaching ranks to take a position on the staff of French Top 14 side Stade Francais from 2002 to 2005.

He was Bath's head coach in the English premiership from 2006 to 2011 and during his tenure the club won the 2007/2008 European Challenge Cup.

The New Zealand-born Fowler was one of Ewen McKenzie's confidants when the Reds won the 2011 Super Rugby title.

Fowler, a qualified psychologist, also worked as a strategist during four World Cups with the Wallabies (1991, 2003), the All Blacks (1995) and the Springboks (2007).

"We've engaged some of the best in the business to join us for 2013," Foley said in a statement.

"We've drawn a line in the sand for this season and, given we'll run out a new-look side, it was essential that we assembled a coaching staff that would not only provide insight into the game but will assist to develop our players and the group as a whole."

The Force are expected to make further appointments in the coming weeks.

Tags: rugby-union, super-rugby, perth-6000

First posted October 08, 2012 13:40:28

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Evergreen Thorn set for another Super Rugby season

Updated October 10, 2012 12:54:02

Evergreen dual international Brad Thorn is reportedly set to write a final chapter in his remarkable playing career by returning to Super Rugby with New Zealand franchise the Highlanders.

The former All Blacks lock, who played for Brisbane, Queensland and Australia in rugby league, has been playing rugby union in Japan and Ireland since helping New Zealand win last year's Rugby World Cup.

But the Otago Daily Times reports Thorn, who will turn 38 in February, has met with Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph and is believed to have agreed to play for the Dunedin-based franchise next season.

Thorn previously played Super Rugby for the Crusaders between 2001 and 2011, before returning to rugby league for a second stint with the Brisbane Broncos from 2005 to 2007.

He has played 200 top grade rugby league games for the Broncos, 14 for Queensland and eight matches for Australia.

In rugby union Thorn has played 92 Super Rugby games for the Crusaders and 60 Tests for the All Blacks.

However a move to the Highlanders would be a fitting career finale for Thorn, who was born in Mosgiel just outside Dunedin where the team is based.

He would add experience and steel to a Highlanders forward pack that already includes new signing All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock and All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore.

Thorn left for Japan last year on a two-year deal to play for the Fukuoka Sanix Blues and that deal is due to expire in late February, paving his way to play in Super Rugby.

Earlier this year, he signed a three-month contract with Irish club Leinster and helped them to win Europe's Heineken Cup.

It added another honour to Thorn's long list, having tasted success at virtually every level in both codes.

AAP

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, new-zealand, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted October 10, 2012 12:54:02

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Lane switches from Reds to Waratahs

Updated October 11, 2012 13:49:03

NSW coach Michael Cheika has moved quickly to bolster his halves stocks at the Super Rugby franchise with Queensland five-eighth Sam Lane among four additions to the Waratahs squad for 2013.

The quartet of Lane, half-back Matt Lucas, lock Jed Holloway and hooker Luke Holmes have snapped up four of the five extended playing squad spots for next season.

Lane, 21, made his debut for the Reds in this year's Super Rugby competition before his season was cut short due to a knee injury.

He is the son of former Wallabies centre and 1999 Rugby World Cup-winning assistant coach Tim Lane and will be back-up to Berrick Barnes and Bernard Foley at number 10 following the departure to Italy of Daniel Halangahu.

Lucas, 20, is the younger brother of Queensland utility back Ben Lucas and has been a star for the Australian Sevens team.

He joins the squad as the third half-back behind Brendan McKibbin and Grayson Hart following the departure of Sarel Pretorius back to his native South Africa after just one season.

"As the youngest of our three half-backs within the squad, Matt gives us balance in the position and succession planning for the future as we look to constantly bring new talent through the ranks," said Cheika, who was appointed as coach four weeks ago.

Former Randwick hardman Cheika is particularly excited about the addition of 19-year-old Holloway, a Shute Shield rookie of the year from the Southern Districts club in Sydney.

"Jed is a very impressive young player," said Cheika.

"As a lock or back rower, to be so highly rated at such a young age is a good sign as typically these positions are late bloomers.

"He's a country player, full of enthusiasm and like Kane Douglas, Paddy Ryan and Pat McCutcheon, he brings a rawness and freshness to the team that we hope will help rough up the competition in the forward pack."

Rounding out the recruits is 28-year-old Holmes, who has 28 Super Rugby caps after being a foundation player with both the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels.

He is the older brother of former Waratahs half-back Josh Holmes and the third hooker in the squad along with Wallaby Tatafu Polota-Nau and Damien Fitzpatrick.

AAP

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, brisbane-4000, qld, australia

First posted October 11, 2012 13:49:03

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