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Rugby Australia call upon big guns in bid to host 2027 World Cup
By AAP
Rugby Australia's new chairman Hamish McLennan has unveiled a formidable advisory board to oversee the bid to host the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Chaired by high-profile businessman Sir Rod Eddington, the advisory board includes former Prime Minister John Howard, ex-Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, World Cup-winning Wallabies captain John Eales, Fortescue Metals Group CEO Elizabeth Gaines, Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth and McLennan, who chairs several ASX-listed companies.
McLennan has spent the weeks leading up to his opening board meeting as chairman assembling the group that will guide RA's bid to secure the world's third largest sporting event for Australia - for the first time since 2003.
If successful, it would have a major impact in the effort to turn around the code's waning fortunes in Australia.
"The 2027 Rugby World Cup is an incredible opportunity for rugby and for our country and we have signalled our intentions clearly by bringing together some of the greatest minds in rugby, politics, business, and the tourism sector to deliver a winning bid for Australia," McLenann said.
Eddington said the group was motivated by a goal that could reap rich rewards for the country as well as rugby.
"These are some of the finest leaders in their fields that Australia has ever produced, and now they are joining forces to help bring a tournament to our shores that will be transformational for the game and provide a huge economic windfall for the country," he said.
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Latest Comments
He is contracted to the end of 2025. When he took the job he said he probably wouldn't go onto the RWC. If that pans out how does that equate with walking out and undermining us.
And you confidently stated that due to your influence he would be gone by the end of 2024.
That didn't happen and he definitely will be coaching the Wallabies until the end of this year and if he leaves then it will be as per his contract.
Your Walter Mitty fantasising continues.
Go to commentsTripe. When have the ABs or the Boks ever been scared of playing each other. If the Eden Park record gets broken then this would be the team I'd want to lose it to. Crikey that's going to be a great game.
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