Australian Rugby Union to be led by John O'Neil – Rugby news
John O’Neil has his contract extended until 2013. He will be acting as a Chief Executive of Australian Rugby Union for the next two years. 2013 is an important year for ARU and selection for a chief executive that year was a crucial decision, as British
and Irish Lions will be visiting Australia.
ARU and O’Neil will be presented with the opportunities to generate colossal revenue and it is also an event that Australian and European rugby fans look upon as an ultimate battle. A lot of Wallabies stars, who were rumoured to be leaving the squad, have
signed extended contracts till 2013 to play the traditional tournament.
O’Neil’s previous contract was supposed to expire in 2012, but the extension in his stay has given stability to ARU and Australian fans are assured they will get a well-organised tournament to witness. His stay has affirmed the retaining of Robbie Deans,
the coach, past the World Cup. O’Neil will be making full use of the players with extended contracts, in order to get maximum output.
Peter McGrath, the chairman for Australian Rugby Union announced this welcome news today, after a meeting of ARU official last Friday in Sydney. McGrath had some good words to say for O’Neil today, after the announcement.
He said, “John is a grand sports administrator, with an established reputation, it's as simple as that in terms of asking him to continue further than his current agreement which ran through to the middle of next year.”
He added, “He’s the best man for the post as Australian Rugby Union looks to take benefit of some amazing opportunities, including the British and Irish Lions tour here in two years time. In 2008 the Board signed off on a raft of premeditated essentials
for the game in Australia to guarantee the long-term affluence of Rugby, and John continues to implement these essentials.”
John O’Neil has been active with both football and rugby union at international level, after resigning from NSW State Bank as a CEO. He is also is Chairman to Brand Sydney presently, a government venture to support tourism in Australia’s major cities like
Sydney. He was selected as the head of Football Federation Australia by Frank Lowy, the project owner and a wealthy businessman. He then came back to his original place in ARU as CEO.
Prior to this, he left ARU in 2003 after joining in 1995, as a Chief Executive Officer. He was one of the major personalities behind the 2003 World Cup, as it was hosted in Australia and his role as a CEO was highly fruitful for the ARU and the investing
parties. His statements and clashes with IRB have been grabbing media’s attention since the 2003 World Cup and he cleverly gets away after throwing out such words. In 2003, he was titled as the Sports Executive of the Year and then he left ARU.
O’Neil is very enthusiastic about this new development and is looking forward to make full use his responsibilities and benefit Australian rugby and tourism in every possible way.
He said, “There was an aspect of incomplete business to mull over in making my judgment. We have mapped out the path, the tactical vision is there, we are making advancement and I would like to prolong delivering on our plans to bolster Australian Rugby.”
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