Rugby Australia CEO Raelene Castle has resigned from her position after losing the support of the board.
Castle had been under pressure to keep her job as the boss of the struggling code, and on Thursday night the news broke that she would be stepping down.
In a statement released to ABC's 7.30 Report, Castle explained her decision.
"I made it clear to the board that I would stand up and take the flak and do everything possible to serve everyone's best interests," she said.
"In the last couple of hours, it has been made clear to me that the board believes my no longer being the CEO would help give them the clear air they believe they need.
"The game is bigger than any one individual — so this evening I told the chair (Paul McLean) that I would resign from the role."
News break: Raelene Castle has resigned as CEO of Rugby Australia. In a statement provided to 7.30, she says: “I love rugby on every level and I will always love the code and the people I have had the honour of working with (1/4)
— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) April 23, 2020
since I took this role. I made it clear to the board that I would stand up and take the flack and do everything possible to serve everyone’s best interests. In the last couple of hours, it has been made clear to me (2/4)
— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) April 23, 2020
that the board believes my no longer being CEO would help give them the clear air they believe they need. The game is bigger than any one individual - so this evening I told the Chair that I would resign from the role (3/4)
— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) April 23, 2020
I will do whatever is needed to ensure an orderly handover. I wish the code and everyone who loves rugby nothing but the best and I would like to thank the people I work with and the broader rugby community for their enormous support (4/4)
— Leigh Sales (@leighsales) April 23, 2020
Castle took over the role in 2017, and was in charge during some of the most tumultuous times in RA's history - including the Israel Folau saga and current TV rights negotiations.
Rugby Australia are yet to make an official statement.
More to come...