'Stand aside': Wallabies captains' bombshell letter to Rugby Australia

Rugby Australia (RA) is seeking crisis talks with 11 disgruntled former Wallabies captains who have called for a leadership overhaul at the governing body.

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

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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.

“Our rural clubs, junior clubs, subdistricts and community clubs have been let down and we firmly believe transformation is needed across the game in this country.

“There's no time to waste.

“Our youth deserve to be inspired. They need to see a pathway and to feel a connection with the Wallaby jersey.

“It is with this in mind we ask the current administration to heed our call and stand aside to allow the game to be transformed so we emerge from this pandemic with a renewed sense of unity and purpose.

“We speak as one voice when we say Australian rugby needs new vision, leadership and a plan for the future.

“That plan must involve, as a priority, urgent steps to create a much-needed sustainable, commercial rugby business.”

Rugby Australia responds to bombshell letter

RA on Tuesday night said it had received “a letter signed by 11 Wallabies captains raising their concerns over how the game has been administered in recent years”.

“Rugby Australia respects and values the opinions of these former Wallabies leaders and statesmen and has welcomed the group to meet with the board at its earliest convenience,” it said.

“Rugby Australia also welcomes the involvement of the group in its current process to review the rugby landscape as it navigates the effects of the global COVID-19 health and economic crisis.”

Former Wallabies captain and RA chairman Paul McLean said he had been in contact with a member of the 11-strong former captains group on Tuesday and offered to arrange a meeting with the full board as soon as was “reasonably practicable”.

“These are respected former Wallabies captains and the board would value their input as we work through the challenges that rugby has faced over the last few years and that have been amplified by the coronavirus pandemic,” McLean said.

“The board is also prepared to work with the group to provide them access to the information requested in the letter.

“The board had commenced the process of establishing a review group to investigate a whole of rugby review that includes professional rugby, semi-professional rugby, and community rugby.

“The board would welcome the input of the signatories of the letter into the review process.

“It is intended that input for the review would be sought from a wide range of stakeholders including current and former players.

“Now is the time for us to come together in the interests of the entire rugby community.”