Australian Rugby Union has ushered in historic Constitutional changes at a General Meeting in Sydney today.
Members voted to adopt a new Governance model following recommendations from the Strengthening the Governance of Australian Rugby (the Arbib Review), which was released in October this year.
ARU
Following an 8 month process, Members gathered at ARU Headquarters in St Leonards to vote on the recommended structure.
The proposal secured the required 75 per cent support and will lead to Australian Rugby establishing an independent corporate governance structure.
The Constitutional changes take on board the recommendations from the Arbib Review and will see the creation of an Independent Board of Directors and changes to the Membership of ARU to better reflect the Rugby Union community across Australia, both amateur and professional.
Adoption of the new Constitutional changes rebalances the voting entitlements of Members and will assist in promoting a Governance structure, working independently in the best interests of Rugby Union across Australia.
The new structure will result in an increase in voting numbers from 14 to 16, with States, Territories, Super Rugby bodies and the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA) to receive the following allocations:
- NSW 3 (1 for Member Union Status, 1 for Super Rugby Team and 1 for more than 50,000 participants)
- QUEENSLAND 3 (1 for Member Union Status, 1 for Super Rugby Team and 1 for more than 50,000 participants)
- WESTERN AUSTRALIA 2 (1 for Member Union Status and 1 for Super Rugby Team)
- VICTORIA 2 (1 for Member Union Status and 1 for Super Rugby Team)
- ACT & SOUTHERN NSW 2 (1 for Member Union Status and 1 for Super Rugby Team)
- SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1 (1 for Member Union Status)
- NOTHERN TERRITORY 1 (1 for Member Union Status)
- TASMANIA 1 (1 for Member Union Status)
- RUGBY UNION PLAYERS ASSOCIATION (RUPA) 1
Previously the voting structure made no allowance for Super Rugby bodies or RUPA with the 14 votes split along the following lines:
- NSW Rugby Union 5
- Queensland Rugby Union 3
- Other State and Territory Member Unions 1 each
Under the new Constitution each State and Territory has the opportunity to secure an additional vote should they – like NSW and Queensland – surpass 50,000 registered players in their region.
ARU President, Ron Graham and ARU Chairman, Michael Hawker AM, thanked members for their support and contributions to the debate.
“Today marks an historic occasion for Australian Rugby, an occasion that would not have been possible without the combined efforts and commitment of all our Members to work together,” Mr Graham said.
“Over the past number of weeks we have undertaken a process of consultation. We have listened to our members and worked with them to get to where we are today.
“I am proud that the decision has been made to take the game to the next level and officially move to having an independent corporate governance structure.”
The new Constitution takes effect immediately.
Over the coming months a four-member independent nominations committee will be established to recommend independent directors for election to the ARU Board.
Existing directors will serve out their terms. However, they will have the right to be considered for nomination as an independent candidate for re-election, by the newly elected Nominations Committee.
Once again this lot is ahead in their way of thinking.
There was something wrong, they went on a proper fact finding mission, well constituted… made the analysis, had a proper vote.
The whole new structure makes a heap of sense too!
When will we see South Africa (SARU) ever take such a positive stance to get rid of an archaic and outdated model which rugby is based on here? We won’t, because to many little farkers will be scrambling to protect their own little fragile empires! We will continue to conspire against one another, dig holes for each other to fall in, make kak rugby decisions… and be headed up by the biggest bunch of wankers to walk this planet.
We have 5 big unions, but they are subject to the other 9 unions. We have a tail wagging the dog scenario. In the above scenario, the big unions would have 15 votes, and the rest would have around 1-2 votes each, so we would not have the ridiculous situation where the smaller unions call the shots.
2 @ Lion4ever:
Exactly!
Call it 6 BIG Unions, reflecting the 6 Big ones in the 6 Super Rugby Franchises (1 sitting out for 2013)… and 8 Small Unions.
The Big Six will have a total of 18 votes, the small Unions a total up to 16 votes… and the players organization, SARPA, could have 1 vote.
Now THAT sounds about fair to me!
Thats how it should be, GBS. The most money comes from the big unions, and ensures the survival of the small unions.
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afternoon everyone!!
@ Krismis_Bonus:
LOL
SARU aren’t interested in doing what’s right for Rugby, only “what’s right” for SARU.
There are 6 “Test Unions” in SA, (WP, EP, Sharks, Bulls, FS, Lions) but as far as I am aware they have no extra voting rights.
IMHO, SARU / Rugby really needs to get their act together in terms of revenue generation v the right to govern. If they don’t eventually there’s going to be an attempt at a breakaway as happened in Soccer in the UK 20 years ago with the formation of the Premier League, who whilst still part of the Football Association actual control their own affairs.
Lets face it, without the “big 5” (ok maybe 4 plus the Lions?) generating the tv incomes for re-distribution, the rest of the provinces in SA Rugby would be up the creek without a paddle in terms of the ability to generate sufficient money for survival.
I can’t see the individual sponsorships that the “minor” provinces attract being enough to keep them financially sound, and the gate takings, well they must be almost non-existent.
As GBS stated earlier, the Ausmob are certainly leading the way in terms of governance, and then throw in the fact that NZ have allowed private ownership of 2 SR franchises, and I’m left wondering what innovative ideas Hoskens, Roux and the “team” will come up with to take SA Rugby forward.
I won’t hold my breath waiting for the answer. I think I know it already.
Well put Scrumdown
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