Rugby
O'Neill to stand down in 2013
2011-10-18 09:28
Auckland - John O'Neill said on Tuesday he would stand down as chief
executive of the Australian Rugby Union in 2013 after the British and Irish
Lions tour of Australia.
The high-profile ARU administrator, in making his announcement in Auckland,
has ruled himself out of choosing between incumbent Robbie Deans and successful
Queensland Reds' mentor Ewen McKenzie as Wallabies' coach for the next World
Cup campaign in 2015.
The ARU has been criticised for extending Deans's contract for a further two
years up to 2013 before the current Rugby World Cup, where Australia were knocked out
in the semi-finals by New Zealand.
Sunday's loss at Eden Park has strengthened the belief in some quarters that
McKenzie, coach of the Super Rugby-winning Reds, should take over the Wallabies
as soon as possible.
"That won't be my call," O'Neill told reporters. "My contract
is up at the end of 2013 and it will not be a decision that will involve me.
"If I'd left as originally intended, 30 June next year, I would not
have involved myself in Robbie's extension - that was in agreement with the
board.
"The board that is in situ for 2013 will be making those calls and I'll
be preparing to ride off, probably much to the relief of some people, into the
sunset and it would be inappropriate for me to be involved in that."
It will be the second time O'Neill, the ARU's CEO and managing director will
move on from the role after leaving rugby in 2004 and then guiding the
operations of Football Federation Australia before returning to the ARU.
Meanwhile O'Neill defended two-time champions Australia's semi-final finish,
saying the Wallabies paid the price for inconsistency and being outmuscled up
front by Ireland, who beat them 15-6 during pool play in a major tournament
upset, and New Zealand.
"It's not a successful campaign but the board from the outset said the
pass mark was making the semis, so we've got a pass mark," he said.
"It's not slit your wrists time, the year's been a pretty good year.
"The Tri Nations victory can't be scoffed at, the Super Rugby victory
by the Reds, the general resurgence in interest in rugby is good, it still has
some distance to go, but in totality of the last 18 months we're back on the
map."
David Nucifora, coaching coordinator and head of Australian Rugby's High
Performance Team, will figure in a full review of the World Cup campaign, along
with the members of the ARU board, including former Wallabies Brett Robinson,
Michael Hawker, Mark Connors and John Eales.
Deans has a winning percentage of 57.4 in 54 Tests since 2008 - one of the
lowest of any Wallaby coach in the professional era - but he has rebuilt the
Test team by bringing through young stars Will Genia, David Pocock, Quade
Cooper, Kurtley Beale and James O'Connor.