Incoming Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has urged Australian rugby union’s warring factions to stop airing their differences in public.
The New Zealander — who has ended his four-year spell as Glasgow Warriors coach — replaces Michael Cheika, who left after Australia were beaten in last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-finals by eventual runners-up England.
Much has changed since the 56-year-old Rennie accepted the job, with Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle having resigned in April amid accusations that the first woman to hold the post had been bullied by “dark forces” on social media.
Photo: Reuters
Last week also saw Rugby Australia tear up the contract of Wallabies lock Izack Rodda after he refused to accept a coronavirus enforced paycut.
The COVID-19 shutdown has added to the financial strain on Rugby Australia, which was already struggling after reaching a multimillion-dollar settlement with star try-scorer Israel Folau over his sacking for homophobic comments.
Rugby Australia reported a provisional A$9.4 million (US$6.3 million) operating deficit last year and has laid off 75 percent of staff to cut costs during the pandemic, with former Australia captain Nick Farr-Jones among those openly critical of the governing body.
“Things have been a bit messy and that’s putting it mildly,” Rennie told a videoconference from his home in Glasgow on Friday.
“An enormous amount of stuff has come out in the press and that’s one thing I’d like to stop,” the 56-year-old added. “A lot of discussions need to happen behind closed doors.”
Rennie could not hide his disappointment at the departure of Castle, but said that he has no intention of walking away from the Wallabies.
“Raelene is an impressive person. She is tough, but has been bullied the last couple of years which is really disappointing,” Rennie said. “I am disappointed I won’t get the chance to work with her but I am committed — I signed a deal and intend to see it through.”
Despite the turmoil Rennie, who guided New Zealand to three successive Under-20 world titles, said: “There are lots of good things happening in Australian rugby.”
“The Super Rugby coaches have given us a lot of access to the players and we’ve done a lot of work with those guys,” Rennie added. “Personally I’m in a better place than I would have been if we [Glasgow] had been playing PRO14, so if there are any positives from the pause to the season it would be that. I’m a lot clearer on the players and where they’re at and what we need to do.”
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
RSS