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Rugby Australia, formerly the Australian Rugby Union, will announce former Canterbury Bulldogs Chief Executive Raelene Castle as its new CEO, according to reports surfacing on Monday night.
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Castle, who identifies as a New Zealander, is set to become the first female to take on a chief executive position of any Australian football code.
Castle is understood to have beat out former Wallaby Phil Kearns for the position amongst 100-odd applicants, in a move that is destined to shake up the politics that so often hinder Australian rugby.
It is believed there was an appetite for a ‘rugby person’ to be appointed, however, the former New Zealand Netball and Bulldogs boss will bring something new to the administration.
Rugby Australia has had a tumultuous year off the field, losing one of its Super franchises and it’s incumbent CEO Bill Pulver on the same day, and its rebrand in late October shows the organisation is keen to move in a fresh direction.
