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Former Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has blamed a co-ordinated smear campaign by the state unions for his ousting and believes the decision was one made due to \u201cmoney and control\u201d.<\/p>\n
McLennan resigned from the Rugby Australia board during an emergency meeting on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
McLennan lost the support of fellow Rugby Australia directors after a letter of no confidence from six state unions, which stated the organisations no longer had faith in the direction he was taking the game.<\/p>\n
The move came after a disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign for Australia and the resignation of Wallabies coach Eddie Jones last month after 10 months in the role.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think this is all about money and control at the end of the day, so we\u2019ll see how it plays out. I just think there\u2019s no doubt there\u2019s been a coordinated campaign to smear me,\u201d he told 2GB\u2019s Ben Fordham on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe results of the World Cup were pretty poor, but I think we\u2019ve got to look at the underlying reasons and the fact is the system\u2019s broken, and we\u2019ve got to fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n
McLennan said he believed the move was a play from the state unions to gain more control within the organisation and said his ousting would create more division within Rugby Australia, not less.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m philosophical. It doesn\u2019t matter. No one died at the end of the day, and it\u2019s just a game. At the end of that important one, and one that I love,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at the end of the day, there\u2019s a war going on in the Ukraine, there\u2019s a war between Israel and Hamas. And that\u2019s real stuff that really matters.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Former Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan being interviewed by 2GB\u2019s Ben Fordham.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>Kate Geraghty<\/cite><\/p>\n Following the vote, McLennan was invited to stay on as a Rugby Australia director, however, he resigned. Former Wallabies centre Dan Herbert was voted in as interim chair.<\/p>\n In a statement released after the ousting, Rugby Australia acknowledged McLennan\u2019s work in keeping rugby afloat during COVID-19 but said the move was necessary for much-needed \u201creform\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cHe (McLennan) departs the role of chair having been a central figure in Australia securing the hosting rights to major rugby events that will inspire generations of players and supporters, as well as delivering the current broadcast rights deal and helping to turn around the governing body\u2019s financial position,\u201d the RA statement said.<\/p>\n Only hours before his removal as chair late on Sunday night, McLennan posed for pictures in his North Shore home and publicly declared readiness to fight for his future, following a \u201ccoup attempt\u201d launched by six state unions on Friday night.<\/p>\n The rebel group – which comprised the Queensland, ACT, West Australian, Tasmanian, South Australian and Northern Territory Rugby Unions – had moved to oust McLennan, and jointly sent letters of no confidence to the RA chairman and the RA board.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not believe Mr McLennan has been acting in the best interests of our game,\u201d the state unions\u2019 letter to the RA board said.<\/p>\n