Rugby Australia boss' bombshell resignation amid virus crisis

Raelene Castle, the first female boss of Rugby Australia, resigned on Thursday after a tumultuous reign which included the sacking of Wallabies superstar Israel Folau.

Castle pulled the pin on her tenure, which started back in late 2017, shortly after 11 former Wallabies' captains called for a change of leadership.

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A tumultuous final year in charge included the sacking of Folau, significant pay cuts for players and staff as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and protracted negotiations for a new broadcasting deal.

In a statement provided to the ABC, Castle said she was told RA needed "clear air".

"I love rugby on every level and I will always love the code and the people I have had the honour of working with since I took this role,” Castle said.

"I made it clear to the board that I would stand up and take the flak and do everything possible to serve everyone's best interests.

"In the last couple of hours, it has been made clear to me that the board believes my no longer being CEO would help give them the clear air they believe they need.

"The game is bigger than any one individual - so this evening I told the chair that I would resign from the role.

"I will do whatever is needed to ensure an orderly handover. I wish the code and everyone who loves rugby nothing but the best and I would like to thank the people I work with and the broader rugby community for their enormous support."

Former Wallabies call for overhaul

Her resignation comes after Rugby Australia sought crisis talks with multiple disgruntled former Wallabies captains who called for a leadership overhaul at the governing body.

World Cup-winning captain Nick Farr-Jones was understood to be the driving force behind an extraordinary vote-of-no-confidence letter delivered to RA boss Castle and the board on Tuesday.

George Gregan, Stirling Mortlock, George Smith, Michael Lynagh, Simon Poidevin, Stephen Moore, Jason Little, Rod McCall, Nathan Sharpe and Phil Kearns - a leading candidate to succeed Castle - are the former skippers along with Farr-Jones to have signed the letter.

Tellingly, though, dual World Cup winners John Eales and Tim Horan as well as grand slam-winning Wallabies leader Andrew Slack were among ex-captains not to sign it.

“In recent times, the Australian game has lost its way,” the letter reads.

“It is a defeat inflicted not by COVID-19, or an on-field foe, but rather by poor administration and leadership over a number of years.”

Castle appears on ABC moments before resignation

Castle completed an interview with ABC TV prior to her resignation and then she believed David Rennie would honour his contract to coach the Wallabies regardless of her situation.

"Ultimately he knows that things can change and I know he has a desperate desire to coach the Wallabies. He's done a lot work and he's excited about the young talent coming through," she said.

"He will come here regardless of where I sit."

Rugby Australia has yet to comment.

Despite a difficult reign as boss, which will be remembered for RA’s showdown with Folau, Castle’s resignation was immediately met with sorrow by many in the Union community.

With AAP