ARU presidency battle to go down to wire

ARU presidency battle to go down to wire

Greg Growden | March 16, 2009


THE tussle between Ron Graham and Dick McGruther for the ARU presidency is likely to come down to the casting vote of outgoing president Paul McLean.

McLean, the former Wallabies five-eighth, could find himself in the onerous position of having to decide between two of his friends at the ARU annual general meeting on March 26.

In the latest Hatfields versus McCoys-style brouhaha, the states and territories are evenly divided over whether McGruther or Graham should take over from McLean as the ARU figurehead.

Until last week, it was assumed Graham, a former NSWRU president, would take over the role. But then Queensland nominated former ARU chairman McGruther, who played a key role in Australian rugby's transition to professionalism. McGruther has been out of rugby administration for some years, but is respected widely for his skills, including his role in making Queensland a prominent rugby province in the 1990s.

It is believed the five NSW delegates, three Queensland delegates and one each from Victoria, South Australia, ACT, Northern Territory, Western Australia and Tasmania have voted seven each for McGruther and Graham.

Graham is understood to have the support of NSW, Western Australia and Victoria, while McGruther is believed to be backed by Queensland, South Australia, ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania.

Both camps may believe they have McLean on their side. He has a good relationship with the candidates, but is also a proud Queenslander, which could work in McGruther's favour. Graham's backers counter that McLean will be sympathetic to their cause.

While the NSW delegates usually vote as a bloc, they could fragment this time as it is believed two of their delegates may be wavering towards McGruther. One NSW delegate has already been directed by the group he represents on the NSWRU board that he must not vote for Graham. But it is also known that several NSW delegates are lobbying heavily for Graham.


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