UPDATE: Rugby Australia interim CEO Rob Clarke will come into his new role with his eyes wide open to the challenges the game faces as he prepares to return to the game after a three-year absence.
Clarke was announced as Rugby Australia's interim CEO on Wednesday afternoon, just hours after new board addition Peter Wiggs walked away from the administration.
Clarke is a familiar face in rugby circles, a former Chief Operating Officer under both Bill Pulver and Gary Flowers and a long time administrator in Super Rugby as well.
It has been nearly three years since Clarke was working in rugby, more recently starting up a management consultancy after resigning from his COO role in mid-2017.
The ex-Brumbies and Rebels CEO was a key player in the organisation in 2017 when Rugby Australia made the decision to axe the Western Force from Super Rugby due to the financial pressures facing the business.
Rugby Australia chairman Paul McLean approached Clarke in recent days to return to the organisation in an interim capacity amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Clarke plans on only remaining in the role for 3-6 months and is adamant he will not be a candidate for the permanent role.
Speaking to RUGBY.com.au after his appointment, Clarke said his first priority would be on helping rugby return to the field and then on shoring up an agreement with broadcasters both for 2020 and then beyond.
Rugby Australia were on the verge of finalising their 2021 deal just as the coronavirus shutdown struck and have not been able to resume talks since.
"I think getting the game across Australia playing again after COVID-19 is critical and I know a lot of good work’s been done already by people in RA and the Super Rugby clubs and community level around that, so the first priority is that and working with broadcast partners, Foxtel and Network Ten to complete the rest of this season, however it will work," he said.
"Then it's turning our minds to 2021 and beyond, what competition structures are going to make most sense and working into our SANZAAR partnership to intersect with potential broadcast partners."
After nearly three years on the outside of the game, Clarke said he felt many of the difficulties facing the game had remained markedly similar.
"I think the challenges aren’t that different to what they were when I was involved, maybe some of the issues are more critical from a time point of view and that’s what we need to focus on and try and get some traction with," he said.
Clarke will come into the position with his eyes wide open when it comes to the organisation's financial challenges and will bring with him the experience of 2017, when Rugby Australia ultimately cut the Western Force from Super Rugby.
"I don’t underestimate the challenges, there were some very tough decisions we made in 2017 due to the financial horizon facing the game and at face value that's only became more challenging since then," he said.
"So, the financial outlook will very much dictate what can be done and what should be done.
"It's a priority of mine to understand that and then work with it."
One of the key elements of shoring up Rugby Australia's financial future is working towards a broadcast deal, something Clarke said would hinge on the delicate balance of working with SANZAAR and satisfying Australia's own interests in competition formats.
"We need to actually get our plans in place and make sure whatever structure competition works for Australia and that work into that structure of SANZAAR," he said.
"We need to get that right first and then take that to potential broadcasters, and that’s easily said not easily done but I believe, I'm optimistic, I believe we'll be able to have conversations with interested broadcasters."
Clarke stopped short of laying out his view on an ideal Super Rugby format in the coming years, something that has been hotly debated in Australian circles recently.
"I think it’s too early to be able to put those views forward...it's always a delicate balancing act, historically it has been, juggling the structure that may suit Australia in isolation versus SANZAAR partners so it's a delicate balance and that will take some time."
Clarke, whose greatest challenge may be in mending bridges with WA stakeholders, said he was confident he could get the Rugby Australia board working together after reports of recent division.
"I’ve worked with a number of board directors in the past and I think I enjoy positive relationships with a lot of them so I'm expecting to work constructively with them on a number of issues," he said.
McLean said in a statement Clarke would play an important role in the months to come.
“Rob is an extremely capable and experienced leader who has vast experience in rugby and his immediate availability has enabled us to secure his expertise for an interim period while we conduct a comprehensive search for the next CEO," he said.
“Rob’s primary role will be to lead the management team and to implement the board’s restructure plans while our work continues to get rugby back on the field at both the community and professional levels.
“Our absolute priority is to get the game back up and running across the country and supporting our community so that the game is in the best position to move forward from this current period of uncertainty in a position of good health.
"We believe Rob is the right person to enable us to achieve those objectives.”
This article does not necessarily reflect the views of Rugby Australia or its member unions.
