Hamish McLennan declined to continue on the Rugby Australia board to advance the game after being removed as chairman. After being ousted, he was replaced by Daniel Herbert as interim chair. He was asked to remain on the board but refused in an interview with Sydney radio station 2GB. McLennan stated that he can’t help with broadcast deals and World Cups in Australia while being forced out, resigning “on principle.”
A letter on Friday from six state unions led to McLennan’s ousting, with opposition from the ACT Brumbies and the Queensland Reds. Despite support from other clubs, McLennan believes there was a “power grab” going on. Following his resignation, the state unions issued a statement describing his departure as honorable.
McLennan stated that the rugby system is broken and needs fixing despite his efforts in securing sponsorships and broadcast deals. Despite the challenges he faced during his tenure, McLennan remains philosophical, acknowledging that there are more important matters in the world.
In response to his departure, the new Chair Dan Herbert and CEO Phil Waugh are planning high-performance centralization. The state unions also expressed their commitment to supporting Rugby Australia through an independent and transparent process to replace McLennan.