Kiwi is Rugby Australia’s new chief executive

Kiwi Raelene Castle has been confirmed as Rugby Australia’s new chief executive.

Castle, the first female boss of an Australian football code, edged out former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns for the position, despite reports suggesting he was favourite to take over the job.

Castle will take over from incumbent chief executive Bill Pulver.

The appointment of the former Canterbury Bulldogs chief executive was a watershed moment for Australian sport given no female has ever been the boss of a major football code.

Rugby Australia – formerly the Australian Rugby Union – has had a tumultuous year off the field and its rebrand in late October shows the organisation is keen to move in a fresh direction.

Rugby Australia chairman Cameron Clyne said Castle was the standout applicant from a list of over 200 candidates, which included sporting and business leaders from across the globe.

“Raelene is an extremely impressive executive who covered every base as far as what the Board was looking for in a Chief Executive Officer to lead our game into an important new chapter,” Clyne said.. “Through her most recent roles as CEO of the Bulldogs and Netball New Zealand, Raelene has led sporting organisations at both a national and club level, giving her an