Rugby Australia in damage control as chair Hamish McLennan sensationally sacked

Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has been ousted following an extraordinary late-night board meeting, according to reports.

On Sunday, McLennan vowed to fight to hold onto his position despite six member unions, including Queensland, the ACT and RugbyWA, demanding his resignation.

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But McLennan’s bid to keep his job ended on Sunday night after an emergency board meeting, according to The Australian.

World Cup-winning Wallaby Daniel Herbert has been named as McLennan’s replacement on an interim basis, the report said.

McLennan opted to quit the board entirely rather than remain as a director.

His exit marks the end of an ugly chapter in Australian rugby.

On Friday, the six rebel union members took the extraordinary step of sending a letter to the RA board declaring they had lost faith in McLennan following a shambolic year for the code.