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O'Neill takes the biggest hit at headquarters
Greg Growden | February 13, 2009
THE Wallabies received widespread praise for agreeing to pay cuts this season, but it appears the hardest hit by the economic downturn will be Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill. R&M understands that the salary cuts and voluntary removal of bonuses as agreed to by senior ARU management this year will this cost O'Neill a significant six-figure sum. O'Neill has taken, by an enormous amount, the biggest monetary hit at the ARU. We hear that O'Neill was the driving force behind the ARU pay reductions and the removal of bonuses for the top brass, despite his contract being heavily weighted around annual bonuses. O'Neill's bonuses were significant - his base salary at the ARU is less than he was receiving at Football Federation Australia. R&M understands that the ARU management cuts were made before the players agreed to a drop from $12,374 per Test to $11,500 this season. The ARU's internal cuts have been widespread, including pay and staff reductions and a drop in expenditure on numerous items across all departments. It is not the best time to be going begging outside the ARU's HQ in Crow's Nest.
Cooper's draft
Queensland five-eighth Quade Cooper was a big success during last year's end-of-season Wallabies northern hemisphere tour, and we hear Australia snaffled him just in time. One of R&M's best snouts said that the New Zealand Rugby Union was extremely close to luring Cooper to the Shaky Isles, but the Wallabies ended all that by selecting him on the tour. The Force's utility back, James O'Connor, was in a similar situation, with concerns among Wallabies hierarchy he may be lured elsewhere. His Wallabies tour selection confirms he is forever green and gold.
Cruz control
The Australian women's team has snared one of the country's best touch footballers for the World Cup Sevens tournament in Dubai next month. Bo de la Cruz, born and raised in Darwin but now living in Sydney, was the star of the 2003 touch football World Cup won by Australia. A former Northern Territory sportsperson of the year, de la Cruz is a Department of Human Services ambassador for indigenous services.
Closed Boks
While the ARU keeps pushing for Super rugby expansion, our snouts say South African administrators have absolutely no interest in having more than 14 teams. The South Africans in recent times have been masters at applying the hand brake, ridiculously stopping any move to expand the finals series from four to five teams. As any SANZAR change relies on the unanimous support of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, Australia's campaign to have teams in Japan, Gold Coast and Western Sydney does not look promising.
High anxiety
One of the most impressive off-season Waratahs efforts involved Al "The Fuse" Baxter and Benn Robinson negotiating peak hour traffic after training a few weeks ago so they could make an appearance at a charity function for Prairiewood High School at Cabramatta Golf Course. Baxter and Robinson, who got caught up in the outer-Sydney traffic maze, put in the hard yards to help Prairiewood raise funds so they can represent Australia in the world schools rugby championship in Japan in April. The next big fund-raising function for the school will be at the Tattersall's Club next Thursday, where ARU high performance manager David Nucifora and Waratahs coach Chris Hickey will be guest speakers.
Rumours of the week
A Sydney player manager has succeeded in getting numerous high-profile NSW players lucrative overseas deals. The names of those heading north later this year will astound. However those trying to get league players overseas rugby gigs are struggling because many European clubs are not interested, primarily because they are not impressed with several recent code converts.
Was that really Tah Man who appeared in one of the Short and Sweet plays at the Seymour Centre recently playing a character called Misunderstood? Apparently no one could understand his character. And when Tah Man makes his first appearance for the season next Friday night at the Waratahs-Chiefs game at the SFS, expect him to appear atop a hovercraft. There are even threats of Tah Man travelling to Canberra for the round-five match against the Brumbies, with the possibility of a cage death match with that frisky stuffed horse, Brumby Jack.
Which NSW Rugby Union director has been warned before this week's Waratahs season launch to curb his behaviour at official functions? Last chance saloon stuff!
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