The issue of Australia sending unwanted Kiwi expats back across the Tasman has been a bit of a hot-button issue over the last few years. This time, though, it’s not just a voluntary relocation but the Kiwi in question was technically born in Australia, albeit to New Zealand parents who raised their offspring “back home” from an early age.
Still, a great many Australian sporting fans will glad to see the back of the Kiwi import.
Former Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle has severed her links with Australia and returned to New Zealand on a permanent basis to be closer to family during the global pandemic.
Castle stepped down from her position at RA in April after learning she had lost the faith of her board, although perhaps more correctly directors realised her position had become untenable and that there was no way RA could progress on any front while she remained as CEO. She was, according to the then RA chairman Paul McLean, subjected to sustained bullying from “faceless people” while in the job.
Unlike the very public bullying of a top-tier rugby player because of his religious views?
Although she will forever be linked with Israel Folau and the long-running saga about her decision to cut him from the Wallabies, the two rugby issues on which she was always likely to be judged were the appointment of a new Wallabies coach and the broadcast deal.
I suspect a great many rugby fans would disagree. The unconscionable bullying of Folau, which vengefully pursued him even after he was driven from these shores, left a bitter and long-lasting taste of disgust in the mouths of many rugby fans. As one commenter optimistically remarked, “Hopefully, Raelene Castle will now take on leadership of NZ Rugby, and stuff that up, too. Go Wallabies!”
Certainly it is early days yet to be making an assessment of Dave Rennie, but Castle’s judgment in signing the New Zealander to a four-year deal is looking like a masterstroke.
I’ll leave that to those with a better knowledge of rugby than mine to assess. Certainly, the Wallabies lost the Bledisloe Cup again, but maybe they lost it with more style this time?
Her broadcast deal was certainly less than stellar.
In retrospect, her decision to knock back Fox Sports’ initial offer was a disaster for Australian rugby. Still, it took a global pandemic to make that apparent.
Her basic premise throughout was to secure more free-to-air coverage and in the aftermath of the collapsed talks with Foxtel she approached Nine about a bid.
Ironically, Nine is now understood to have lodged a $30m-a-year offer in cash and free advertising.
Which is as much as ten million lower than Foxtel’s offer. Great deal!
I’ll leave the final word to another commenter:
Couldn’t imagine too many management job offers being made to her here. Two high profile football appointments and both were disasters. Perhaps her skills would be a good fit in politics in NZ.
“Treasurer?” some wag suggested.
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