The six Rugby Australia member unions have welcomed the resignation of RA Chair Hamish McLennan, praising his contribution to the game.
McLennan was replaced as Chair by Daniel Herbert on Sunday, ending his three-year tenure at RA.
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The six unions – the ACT and Southern NSW, Queensland, West Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmanian rugby unions – last week informed Mr McLennan that he had 'lost their confidence' in a statement on Friday.
They pushed for an EGM to vote on the matter before McLennan was replaced on Sunday by the former Wallaby Herbert.
The member unions released a statement on Monday, praising McLennan for his influence over the game.
“Mr McLennan has always acted in what he genuinely believed was in the best interests of our game, and his resignation today is a demonstration of this," the statement said.
“It is an honourable decision that recognises his continued service had become a distraction to the game.
“Mr McLennan cannot be faulted for his energy or devotion to rugby, nor his tireless efforts for the game.
“In particular, his efforts during the COVID pandemic helped secure the game’s future during its darkest hour.
“The Member Unions remain committed to working with Rugby Australia’s new Chair Dan Herbert and Chief Executive Officer Phil Waugh on their plans for high-performance centralisation.”
McLennan was appointed RA chairman in 2020 during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Chair played a crucial role in financially stabilising the game, including securing the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups.
