Oakley new VRU boss

Ross Oakley, the man who oversaw the AFL's emergence from a Victorian competition, is now heading up the Victorian Rugby Union.

Oakley, who joined the VRU board a little more than a year ago, has been appointed acting chief executive.

He stepped into the breach after Jason Cornell resigned from the post on Tuesday, to pursue other career opportunities.

Oakley, who played 62 VFL games for St Kilda in the 1960s, was recruited to the board last year.

Victorian union officials wanted to tap into his administrative experience, as they established the Melbourne Rebels Super Rugby club.

The Rebels will become the fifth Australian franchise in the expanded competition next year.

While the Rebels are independent of the VRU, the organisation has played a guiding hand given the new club's success is integral to the VRU's objective of building the sport in Victoria.

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