ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has made the difficult decision today to make the code’s marketing head redundant after nearly half a decade of service.
It comes as rugby union’s administrative body makes sweeping redundancies in an effort to keep the game solvent in this country. Earlier this month, it was revealed that the Victorian franchise, the Melbourne Rebels, was in the hole to the tune of some $30m – including millions owed to the Australian taxpayer.
The Rebels were found to have limited assets to liquidate; assorted office furniture, one bag of Vittoria coffee beans and two completely fucked Chinese-made vans.
That forced Rugby Australia to act.
“It’s been a horror 18 months for us,” he said.
“Two years ago, we were in the Marianas Trench. I didn’t think things could get any worse. Turns out they could. Way worse. We are nearing the Earth’s core. So it was either change, or die.”
Rather than get rid of the grey-haired dead wood in the organisation, Mr Waugh made the tough decision to sack the entire marketing department.
“Me and the [marketing] Pigeon cried together,” he said, his voice breaking as he recounted the exchange for The Advocate.
“I took him down to the park and I set him free. It’s the end of an era.”
In the interim, Mr Waugh says a mate’s son will be running the social media accounts and developing a new marketing strategy.
“Lachie,” he laughed.
“He’s a good King’s boy. Protestant. Well-built like his old man, Bill. They’re good Junee stock. He knows nothing about marketing but that’s good, we can teach him our ways.”
More to come.
