Rugby Australia officials are adamant it was a pragmatic business decision to kill the Melbourne Rebels; supporters of the Rebels say it was an unfair call and a “premeditated murder”.
Walking into Collins Street’s Intercontinental Hotel, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh and chairman Dan Herbert had just come from delivering bad news. Etched on their sullen faces was the weight of
Last Wednesday, that consortium invited Rugby Australia into an online data room to view a cache of documents outlining its plan to rescue the club. “ never made money. With their proposal, it looks like they would be on the perpetual tap of Rugby Australia. There was a plan to take costs out – but not to grow fan engagements to get bums on seats, nor get significant TV audiences,” they said.
On Monday, Rugby Australia held a regular board meeting. Several people in the Rebels camp believe it was at this meeting RA made the call to kill the club. This was flatly rejected by those in the Rugby Australia camp, who said they had been underwhelmed by the documents they’d seen, but had not made any final decision.
Widdup wrote to Rugby Australia chair Herbert, accusing a board director of breaching their code of conduct during a late-night meeting.
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