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Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has apologised to Australian rugby fans for a dismal performance at the Rugby World Cup, but has no regrets about hiring Eddie Jones and says he\u2019d make the same call again.<\/p>\n
McLennan also conceded the budget for the Wallabies\u2019 World Cup campaign had blown out by a concerning amount, and the panel to find the next Wallabies coach will be RA chief executive Phil Waugh and RA director Daniel Herbert.<\/p>\n
In the wake of the Wallabies\u2019 first-ever exit from the World Cup pool stages and Jones\u2019 subsequent resignation, McLennan addressed a number of topics in a sit-down interview with Stan Sport.<\/p>\n
After coming under heavy criticism for his role in an annus horribilis for Australian rugby, McLennan re-iterated his intention to stay in the role as chair and rejected the suggestion the recruitment of Jones had been a \u201ccaptain\u2019s pick\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think its unfair because it was socialised amongst the board and we were all concerned about how the team was performing [under Dave Rennie in 2022],\u201d McLennan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had to make a lot of significant calls for rugby over the last three years so I was in a position where I certainly gave a point of view. It is unfair to say it was my call only, but I was certainly an advocate for Eddie and I think given the circumstances I would probably make the same call again.<\/p>\n
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Eddie Jones resigned as Wallabies coach.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Steven Siewert<\/cite><\/p>\n \u201cIn business and in life, you don\u2019t have a 100 per cent success rate. You don\u2019t get every call right. I am really gutted. I felt so bad after we lost to Wales and there were fans in the street who\u2019d spent their money going over to watch the games and the tournament, and all their hopes had been ripped up. But I also want to stick it out and fix it once and for all. I think I am doing it for the right reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n McLennan apologised to fans several times during the interview, but stopped short of agreeing when asked if Rennie was also due an apology.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a good question. I am not sure, in the sense, by his own acknowledgement that he felt accountable to the scoreboard. We honoured the contract exactly as it was written to him,\u201d McLennan said.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was given three years .\u2026 we discussed it in depth and we felt we needed a change.\u201d<\/p>\n McLennan confirmed widespread speculation in Australian rugby circles that the Wallabies program had gone significantly over budget in 2023. Sources with knowledge of the matter, who requested anonymity to speak freely, said the cost blow-outs related to pre-World Cup accommodation in Paris, and costs involved in having up to 15 players based in Europe with Australia A and the Barbarians during the tournament for injury cover. None were called up by Jones.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t disclose [figures] but it was over … more than we would like, yeah,\u201d McLennan said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to have tighter budget control and so we have certainly got a new CEO, and stricter processes that will ensure that doesn\u2019t happen in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wallabies\u2019 budget blow-out is due to part of the forthcoming season review, which will be conducted by Andrew Slack, Justin Harrison and consultant Darlene Harrison.<\/p>\n Rugby Australia chair Hamish McLennan .<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Steven Siewert<\/cite><\/p>\n McLennan revealed former Wallabies Waugh and Herbert, who make up the Rugby Committee on the RA board, will conduct the search for a new Wallabies coach.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Rugby Committee will be designing the process, they\u2019ll be interviewing the candidates and putting a recommendation to the board,\u201d McLennan said.<\/p>\n McLennan said weeks of criticism had been tough on his family.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been very difficult for them, and it certainly isn\u2019t pleasant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll I would say to the rugby fans and the stakeholders, I again apologise for what happened at the World Cup but hopefully you see someone with a steely resolve who wants to bat on.<\/p>\n \u201cRugby eats itself every three or four years and it has lacked a coherent strategy over a long period of time, and I feel like we are just getting to the point where we will break through. I think we are really close to pulling off an historic alignment or centralisation within the code.\u201d<\/p>\n Sports news, results and expert commentary.<\/i><\/b> Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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