Rugby Australia decides Castle the best move

RAELENE Castle is playing down her groundbreaking appointment as Rugby Australia’s new CEO as she sets about trying to make the sport the No.1 footy code in the country.

The former Canterbury NRL chief executive was announced as Bill Pulver’s successor at RA’s Sydney headquarters at Moore Park yesterday. Castle will take up her post on January 15, becoming the first female boss of any of the national governing bodies of the four major football codes in Australia.

But dismissing as “media fascination” her watershed leap into Australian rugby’s hottest seat, Castle said “the work starts today” in reconnecting with disenchanted fans after one of the toughest years since the code went professional in 1996.

“The reality is sport has gender equity in it. There’s people from both who are really delivering, particularly at grassroots level,” Castle, also a former Netball New Zealand chief, said.

“So I don’t think it’s an enormous step to have a female chief executive. I’m excited about the opportunity.

“My experience in rugby league was very strong. I don’t expect my experience in rugby union to be any different.” Castle spent four years at the Bulldogs, presiding over three NRL finals appearances for the club, including the 2014 grand final loss to South Sydney, before resigning this season.

“(The Bulldogs) really helped me understand the Australian sporting landscape. It’s a unique landscape,” she said.

“That experience working with the Bulldogs in that landscape and also working with a coach like Des Hasler, who’s a strong personality, that will also help me when I have to forge a very strong relationship with (Wallabies coach) Michael Cheika.”

The Wagga Wagga-born Kiwi’s first priority is to “take a breath”.

“It’s been a very big year, it’s been a challenging year, and this is about some stability moving forward,” Castle said.

“But it’s about building the relationships, building strong relationships with the states and the franchises.”