Rugby apology ruckus

A GOLD Coast District Rugby Union director is demanding a public apology after leaving the board amid claims of unconstitutional behaviour and bullying.

Chris Miles’ recent exit follows a difference of opinions on various junior matters.

Miles, a former Wales A hooker who has coached junior and senior Gold Coast Cyclones representative teams, was one of seven people appointed in November as the management to succeed caretakers Queensland Rugby.

His chief gripes surrounded the alleged appointment of a Cyclones coach against policy – a claim strongly denied by GCDRU chair Kim Bending – and the failure to implement the pathway he had devised as a solution to waning participation numbers in older junior age groups.

“I did about three months of analysis work into what would make junior rugby strong on the Gold Coast again and that was looking at combining the 15s and 16s age groups,” said Miles, a management consultant by day.

He had pushed for a combined under-15 and 16 competition labelled “Ignite Rugby” and a combined under-17 and 18 division called “Xtreme Rugby”.

What instead eventuated was a stand-alone under-15 division, Xtreme Rugby as under-16 and 17, and under-18 players being pushed up into seniors.

Miles slammed it as shortsighted and “reactionary” but Bending calmly fired back, declaring the decision had been made in line with acting as the voice of the clubs.

What followed, according to Miles, is an ultimatum for him to either resign from his various coaching roles or from the board – and that when he chose the former, he was kicked off the board anyway.

Bending strongly denied this version of events and said Miles was not championing the board’s vision, assuring there was no bad blood.

“Everyone has got to be working in the same direction … the best way forward was to move on,” Bending said.

Miles said he chose not to launch legal action because he did not want to damage the competition, and instead believes a public apology is in order. Bending reiterated there has been no wrongdoing by himself or the board.