Gregan v JON

[Slim 293]

Should be interesting...

John O'Neill braces himself for a revival of the Georgian era

• by: Wayne Smith
• From: The Australian
• March 19, 2012 12:00AM

FORMER Wallabies captain George Gregan has played more Tests than any other player in history -- 139 -- but he is about to take on arguably his most difficult assignment as an Australian Rugby Union board member.

The Australian understands that Gregan, 38, has agreed to join the board as the official players' representative. To qualify for the role, a player must have been retired for no more than five years, a criteria Gregan easily meets. Although he played his last Test for Australia in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final against England, he played on in France and Japan.
He now is involved with the Brumbies as a coaching consultant to head coach Jake White, working with the backs.
It is understood the ARU has welcomed his nomination by the Rugby Union Players Association as a replacement for Mark Connors but it will be fascinating to see how well Gregan works with ARU boss John O'Neill. There has been tension, to put it euphemistically, between the two since the turn of the century, much of it to do with O'Neill's opposition to what he perceived as "player power".

O'Neill associated it with the Brumbies and Gregan in particular and the fact that the legendary former Wallabies captain, a World Cup winner and the most-capped rugby player, is now coming on to the ARU board as the players' representative promises to make for an interesting dynamic.
Connors had tended to take a softly-softly approach as an ARU board member but that has never been Gregan's way and although the ARU's public stance would suggest otherwise, it is understood that behind the scenes, senior officials are viewing his impending arrival with trepidation.
Certainly Gregan can be expected to strongly articulate the players' viewpoint on the salary cap and on the fact that the ARU has chosen to implement the draft contracting rules negotiated with RUPA while they are still that, no more than draft rules. And that's not the only financial matters likely to excite his attention.
Increasingly too, the spotlight is on the ARU's handling of the game's finances, specifically whether it took the necessary precautions to protect the value of its share of the SANZAR broadcast deal negotiated in US dollars against the rising Australian dollar.
A year ago, the ARU trumpeted a $298,000 currency exchange windfall, so all eyes are turning to next month's AGM to see what prominence is accorded currency exchange matters.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Stick it to the man Georgy!

 

[RedsHappy]

Do you think GG will now get a look at the infamous 'independent report' re the ARU's RWC '11 assessment?

It's only been over 3 weeks since it was 'reviewed' by the ARU board and there's been multiple leaks of new assistant coaches for Deans...

Needless to say, after the fans were told that RWC success was to be the crowning objective of the Deans' era, and then we somewhat undershot that objective on the day(s), the fans themselves have still heard nothing of or from 'the review'.

Perhaps the ARU is still polishing its details and correcting fonts.

 

[Paradox]

George is a smart guy. All is well.

 

[GaffaCHinO]

Georgy boy did the job on a few coachs over the years do we think he can do the same on JON (ahead of
Schedule)

 

[RedsHappy]

Georgy boy did the job on a few coachs over the years do we think he can do the same on JON (ahead of
Schedule)

GCO, haha, but top point!

With The Aus's Wayne Smith - who's no great friend of JO'N and the ARU - reporting that GG has had some tense run-ins with JO'N, this almost certainly means GG has quietly let it be known that he has no intention of being yet another pot plant of an ARU board member.

That encouraged me.

 

[Linebacker_41]

This is a great political move by RUPA.

I wouldnt expect that there would be much love between Gregan and O'Neill nor would I expect much love between Gregan and Nucifora.

Mind you I still find it strange that the players have a seat on the board. I can't imagine the AMWU or TWU or ASU (Services) having a seat on the Qantas board.

 

[Slim 293]

Gregan joins ARU board​

March 19, 2012 - 1:59PM​

​

AAP​

George Gregan will join three other former Wallabies, John Eales, Michael Hawker and Brett Robinson, on the board of the Australian Rugby Union.​

​

The game's most-capped international player will replace fellow Wallaby great Mark Connors as the Rugby Union Players Association's (RUPA) nominee on the ARU board.​

​

Connors has stepped aside after serving as the association's representative since 2007.​

​

ARU Chairman Peter McGrath thanked former Wallabies forward Mark Connors for his valuable and long-standing contribution as a director on the nine-man board.​

​

Connors will step down at the annual general meeting in Sydney on April 27 and Gregan's elevation will take effect following the AGM.​

​

Gregan played 139 matches for the Wallabies and a record 136 games for the Brumbies, and has established himself as a successful businessman post-football.​

​

"The RUPA Board has spent considerable time discussing the best past player to be nominated for this position on the Board steering the game and we were unanimous that George was the most-credentialed and experienced candidate," said RUPA CEO Greg Harris.​

​

"Not many players gain simultaneous applause about their achievements on the field and also their career success post-rugby.​

​

"Georges unique understanding of the game and the players, matched with his unquestionable business acumen, make him a very valuable asset for Australian rugby."​

​

McGrath said Gregan was ideally placed to make a valuable contribution to Australian rugby going forward.​

​

"He is one of the most-decorated players in the history of our game," he said.​

​

 

[Inside Shoulder]

Qantas has shareholders: the ARU is a law unto itself.
This could be very interesting.


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[Inside Shoulder]

​

mark Connors = wallaby great.......I think not


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[Roundawhile]

This could be veerrrrrryyyy interesting

Although he is only one out of how many?

 

[Penguin]

mark Connors = wallaby great.......I think not


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- Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Won a World Cup & was a fantastic lock/blindside. Maybe not a great, not many players can take on that mantle, he was however a great player.

 

[Inside Shoulder]

He was a very good player - and a very valuable one.

 

[I like to watch]

This could be veerrrrrryyyy interesting

Although he is only one out of how many?

He will be one of nine board members

 

[Inside Shoulder]

He will be one of nine board members

But he has a very high public recognition factor which he may be able to use to push his agenda if he's got one.
I'm not sure that the pro players agenda is aligned with we the paying, playing and parenting public's needs.

 

[Waylon]

Gregan is out of his depth. Stick to coffee

JON is GOD

 

[Baldric]

This could be a badger v baboon type of scrap.

 

[p.Tah]

This is a great political move by RUPA.

This and the comments about ' GG and his agenda ' highlight what is intrinsically wrong with rugby in Australia. Politics and pushing agendas.

 

[fatprop]

I don't understand why this is being termed a "battle" Gregan is joining a board not entering a UFC ring

 

[RedsHappy]

Nothing intrinsically wrong with 'agendas' per se; it all depends upon the quality of the agenda in relation to the code's strategic needs in Australia.