Hamish McLennan ousted as Rugby Australia chairman after board vote

Rugby Australia acknowledged McLennan’s work in keeping rugby afloat during the “challenging times” after joining the board during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2src2src.

“He 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’s financial position,” the RA statement said.

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 “coup attempt” launched by six state unions on Friday night.

This masthead revealed 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.

With enough votes to remove McLennan as an RA director at an extraordinary general meeting, the rebel state unions urged McLennan to resign, but the advice was rejected. Even after a deadline of 5pm on Saturday was extended by 24 hours, the combative chairman declared on Sunday he was prepared to take the matter to a vote at an EGM.

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However, McLennan would have had a fight on his hands to survive an EGM, with the rebel unions confident they had nine of the 16 votes in the Rugby