When Phil Waugh became the first ex-Wallaby to be CEO of Rugby Australia, he vowed his close relationship with chairman Hamish McLennan and coach Eddie Jones would not stop him from challenging the pair on vital issues.
The 43-year-old was officially announced as a replacement for Andy Marinos on Tuesday, at the site where he spent a decade wowing fans with his tenacity and kicking smarts, Sydney Football Stadium.
After 79 Tests for the Wallabies, one of Australia’s greatest flankers will now look to revive the game’s waning popularity and fan engagement, as well as rekindle the increasingly poor level of performance on the pitch, especially when it comes to Super Rugby.
But he will face hurdles in the face of the huge politics at play at Rugby Australia, particularly when it comes to the increasingly outspoken McLennan.
Given Waugh has a close relationship with the powerful chairman through his time as a non-executive director on the board, and Jones handed him his Wallabies debut during his first stint as coach in 2000, many would wonder if he would be able to stand up to the two heavyweights.
Rugby Australia’s new CEO Phil Waugh (left) says he won’t be afraid to challenge outspoken chairman Hamish McLennan (right)
Waugh insisted he would also have an equally strong relationship with his first Wallabies coach Eddie Jones (pictured)
The father-of-four, pictured with his son Arthur during his unveiling to the CEO on Tuesday, is the first ex-Wallaby to be named CEO of Rugby Australia
Waugh put those worries to bed, insisting he would make the tough calls if necessary, but also spoke about the importance of having a united front after a decade of tumult on and off the pitch.
“I will definitely take issue with the aspects that I may not agree with…you will always have battles,” he said at his official unveiling in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon.
‘It’s a bit like playing, or selection room. You’ll have differences of opinion…but when we go to market, we have to make sure we’re there in front of the people as a united board, with the executive.
McLennan, who has fought a very public battle against the NRL of late in his dogged pursuit of convincing league players to code-switch as Joseph Suaalii will soon do, confirmed that claim.
He maintains that there will be a solid working relationship that will not be one-sided, with the president always getting what he wants.
“When I look at my interactions with Phil, we had our healthy debates and disagreements on a range of issues, but we always ended up in a better place,” McLennan told reporters at Waugh’s unveiling.
“I think the board also recognizes that and has been very reassured by his ideas about the game and how we can drive it stronger.”
Waugh, a married father of four, will also have to forge a similar relationship with his first Wallabies coach, who is as outspoken as McLennan.
Jones (green jacket) will team up with Waugh (second left) to turn Australia’s rugby fortunes around
Jones is known as a coach with a relentless desire for perfection and high standards on and off the pitch, and Waugh said this will help push rugby Down Under to greater heights.
“It was always very robust with Eddie,” he said.
“I think we still have this strong relationship where we want the best and the highest performance from the Wallabies, and we will work together to achieve that.”
If anyone can turn the tide for rugby in Australia, it’s Waugh.
The 180cm, 100kg flanker played with enormous heart and tenacity during his outstanding career which included 136 games for the Waratahs.
With brilliant foot intelligence on the breakdown, a robust defense and a surprisingly strong running game for an open side, Waugh was the soul of any team he played for.
Waugh has played 79 Tests for the Wallabies and is one of Australia’s greatest flankers. He also won the 2003 John Eales Medal as the Wallabies’ best player of that year.
The Waratahs stalwart played 139 Super Rugby games before retiring in 2011
Waugh (centre) was known to play with tremendous heart and tenacity despite his relatively small frame
The 2003 John Eales medalist for the Wallabies Most Valuable Player, even took part in the Sydney to Hobart, before forging a hugely successful career in banking after completing two Masters during his playing days.
And he will tackle his new challenge – his first appointment as general manager – with the same enthusiasm he had with Gilbert ball in hand.
“I see it as quite exciting, I like ambition, I like to lean in and have a crack. I’ve certainly played my rugby that way, I intend to run rugby the same way ” Waugh said on Tuesday.
He had been the overwhelming favorite to replace Marinos after his surprise resignation in March, and McLennan insisted after external research that Waugh was “by far” the best person for the job.
One of his first tasks will be to reconnect Rugby Australia with fans and grassroots rugby, after a decade of disconnection and accusations of only prioritizing the game’s relationship with the private school system.
Super Rugby standards are falling on the pitch and fans have turned away in droves, although the Shute Shield’s popularity in Sydney has been rekindled after a period of neglect from the top brass.
Super Rugby (pictured a crowd during a Waratahs v Rebels clash in Round 12) are desperate to reconnect with fans
Waugh said it was crucial to rectify this.
“Over time people choose to go to club games or Super Rugby games,” he said.
“When I was playing you would go to your club game and then you would go and support your club players in the Super Rugby game.
“It’s really important that we get back to that and put our best Super Rugby players into clubs and then bring club supporters into Super Rugby and Test matches.
“I think there’s been a huge separation over time. The game begins and ends at our clubs.
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