Wallabies legend John Eales joins ARU board
April 15, 2010 - 2:19pm
Story by: ARU
John Eales, a dual Rugby World Cup winner and captain of the Wallabies’ triumphant campaign for the William Webb Ellis Cup in 1999, was today appointed to the Australian Rugby Union Board.
The former Test skipper, nominated by his native Queensland, was elected unopposed at the Annual General Meeting in Sydney following the retirement from the Board of former Defence Force Chief, General Peter Cosgrove.
Eales, 39, played 86 Tests for Australia, making his debut in 1991 and retiring after the retention of the Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations titles 10 years later.
Post an illustrious Rugby career that earned him widespread acknowledgement as one of the game’s greatest players, Eales has managed to carry his on-field success to varied business ventures.
A founding director of the Mettle Group, a culture and leadership consultancy now part of the Chandler Macleod Group, Eales is also involved with sports marketing and events company International Quarterback.
He has remained active in sport since his Test retirement, serving as a director of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and as a Board member for five years with the Australian Sports Commission.
Eales was also engaged by the Australian Olympic Committee to act as a mentor for individuals, teams and coaches at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1999 for services to the community and Rugby and received the 2000 Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australian Rugby.
The annual award to recognise the Wallabies’ best player for the year is also named after him – the John Eales Medal.
Eales said his election to the nine-man ARU Board was an honour.
“I’m excited by the opportunity,” he said.
“Rugby has always been a passion and I look forward to being able to contribute.”
ARU Chairman Peter McGrath said the appointment of Eales ensured the Board continued to boast an exceptional array of business talents, with three directors (Eales, Michael Hawker and Mark Connors) having the added distinction of Wallabies representation.
ARU director John Mumm was also today re-elected unopposed for a further three-year term on the Board.
At the AGM, ARU announced an operating surplus of $6.13 million.
It is a figure surpassed only once since the 2003 Rugby World Cup – last year’s operating surplus was $9.2m.
After allocations to Member Unions for coaching and development, a net deficit of $279,000 for 2009 was declared. In 2008 there was a net surplus after allocations of $712,000.
Despite a tough economic environment through 2009 where a fall in revenue was experienced, belt-tightening measures undertaken by ARU removed the threat of a multi-million dollar deficit.
Expenditure was reduced by $5.3 million – from $71.2 million to $65.9 million.
Despite these cuts, player payments and Super 14 grants remained virtually the same at $29.25 million – down just $59,000 on the previous year.
Participation figures were also on the rise in 2009, increasing by 4.8% to 192,581.
This included record participation numbers at senior and junior club levels.
The number of regular Rugby participants (senior and junior clubs, schools and women) was also at an all time high.
FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE PAST 6 YEARS
2004
Operating surplus $4m
After allocations – Net deficit $4.4m
Expenditure $65.9m
2005
Operating surplus $5.8m
After allocations – Net deficit $3.2m
Expenditure $67.5m
2006
Operating surplus $3.9m
After allocations – Net deficit $6.3m
Expenditure $75.3m
2007
Operating deficit $466,000
After allocations – Net deficit $8.5m
Expenditure $80.7m
2008
Operating surplus $9.2m
After allocations – Net surplus $712,000
Expenditure $71.2m
2009
Operating surplus $6.1m
After allocations – Net deficit $279,000
Expenditure $65.9m
