The AFL & ARL are eating our lunch and I cannot see it getting better in the foreseeable future.
They have real money and independent commissions and if they even cared, would be laughing at the directionless ineptitude of ARU leadership.
JON will leave our game in financial stress, without a 3rd tier pathway, instability in our coaching and and an angry and disgruntled fan base.
JON is about JON, always has been and always will be, but my biggest disappointment is the lack of any visible action from the board to call him into line.
Is a condition of becoming a board member having to cut off your nuts?
Rugby Union seems to be moving into the space that Rugby League used to occupy for a while in the 90's. A lot of uncertainty, infighting (As seen through the emergence of Super League), casual fans losing interest and really only getting worked up for the big events of State of Origin and the Grand Final.
The future of Rugby is not as dire as what some make it out to be. I think
Man on the Hill is correct when saying that the Lions tour will help JO'N leave Rugby in the black, but you are correct in saying that over his 2 tenures as CEO of Rugby Union, and the game doesn't have a 3rd tier in this country, there is lack of confidence in the top coaching staff from a few angles and the game is bleeding fans.
Originally, I was under the impression that JO'N was merely another board member with Echo, which would be perfectly fine. Being the chairman as stated many times above, carries certain other responsibilities where I dont think both positions can be managed with as much consideration as each needs individually.
All the talk about who could replace him seems centred on Carmichael from the Reds (is that his name?). This is a reasonable suggestion. Many businesses look to the heads of subsidiaries to take over the top job. Gail Kelly at Westpac, Alan Joyce at Qantas, especially when they have proven themselves by doing well at the subsidiaries. The thing that worries me is that it seems to be very up in the air. If JO'N was to walk today, is there any succession planning in place? The board should be the ones that would need to worry about this. Is there anyone currently in the ARU that is even remotely known to be able to take the top job? Who is running the show when O'Neill is on leave, or at his other gig? This would be the time where the board should be urging the front runner in house to be fronting the media, towing the company line but getting their face out there. The fact that this isn't happening either means O'Neill will be hanging around at least til the Lions come and go