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Phil Waugh

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Former Melbourne Rebels President Paul Docherty appears at the Federal Court.

Rebels president says he had no clue club was toast

Paul Docherty told a court he had warned rugby’s governing body against centralising the club before its balance sheet had been fixed up.

  • Sarah Danckert

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The Melbourne Rebels playing out the 2024 season after the financial collapse of the club.

Rugby Australia’s plan for star players was no secret to Rebels, court hears

The now-failed Rebels not only knew of RA’s Winning Rugby plan, but also supported it, a court has heard in opening addresses.

  • Sarah Danckert
Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh (left) with Melbourne Rebels president Paul Docherty in happier times.

Not all states are equal: The secret ‘seismic’ plan to reshape rugby

Rugby Australia signed off on a plan that would explicitly back NSW and Queensland. Now Wallabies legend Phil Waugh faces a court grilling over it as the fallout from the Rebels’ collapse deepens.

  • Sarah Danckert
Businessman Leigh Clifford (right), who wanted to save the Melbourne Rebels, and Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh, who shut down the club in May.

Rebels directors to cough up $2.2m to court for Rugby Australia legal team’s ‘Rolls-Royce’ expenses

The costly costs order comes as the two groups remain at loggerheads despite attempts by the Rebels to settle the matter.

  • Sarah Danckert
Massimo De Lutiis.

Australia push for reform to ‘crazy’ transfer system after securing young strongman

Massimo De Lutiis will stay in Australian rugby but the fact the 22-year-old prop could have been poached by Ireland for peanuts has highlighted flaws in World Rugby regulations.

  • Iain Payten
A view from section 604 at Accor Stadium.

For $379, this seat is still available as Wallabies-Lions creeps towards sell-out

Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh has responded to criticism over the cost to attend Lions games after empty seats were seen at tour games.

  • Iain Payten
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'Not everything's a fairytale': Michael Cheika

Cheika meets with Waugh as search for next Wallabies coach heats up

Former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika took Australia to the 2015 Rugby World Cup final. Could he be the shock choice to replace Joe Schmidt and go one better in 2027?

  • Iain Payten
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh at the launch of the ‘Green and gold’ report.

Rugby Australia has a plan. To me, it looks more like a Christmas wish list

I want rugby to succeed, and you want rugby to succeed. But achieving the aims of the governing body’s strategy report will be easier said than done.

  • Peter FitzSimons
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii takes on England at Twickenham.

Win Bledisloe every two years: Rugby Australia sets out bold five-year goals

A new strategy paper through to 2029 released by RA includes some lofty ambitions.

  • Iain Payten
Joseph Suaalii poses during the Wallabies jersey launch for the 2025 British & Irish Lions Tour

‘Joey is all anyone is talking about’: Inside the deal that delivered rugby its new face

All eyes are on the Wallabies thanks to Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, but Hamish McLennan’s pursuit of the Roosters star sparked a boardroom split at Rugby Australia. This is how the deal went down – and how much it will cost RA.

  • Michael Chammas