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| George Gregan: A troublesome Governor? |
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Apparent move to oust the Governor
The Australian Rugby Union (ARU) has reluctantly accepted George Gregan as its captain for the World Cup but would like to be rid of him completely.
This is the claim made by Danny Weidler in The Sun-Herald this Sunday.
Weidler reports that Gregan knows the ARU does not want him as a captain or as a player from now on but he also knows that he has the support of his team-mates. He further reports that this has caused a rift between the ARU and the Wallabies.
This is happening at a time when there is already disagreement between the ARU and the Rugby Union Players' Association (RUPA) about players' remuneration for the World Cup. Gregan is a member of RUPA's executive committee. There is surmise that it is his role on RUPA which sets him at odds with the ARU.
There have already been talks about a successor and Gregan's management company is discussing an exit strategy, though Gregan was apparently keen to play next year.
At the heart of the problem, according to Weidler, is the animosity between Gregan and John O'Neill, the ARU's CEO. This was manifest again last week when O'Neill publicly criticised Gregan for not staying at the team's hotel on the night before the England Test.
The newspaper reports Toutai Kefu as saying: "I can't believe that it has been made into any kind of issue. As far as I know George has done this before when we've been in Melbourne. And I can't see what the problem is.
"If I was in George's shoes and my wife was in another hotel the night before the Test, I'd sleep there too. In Brisbane I only live a few minutes from the hotel and I have no trouble sleeping at home. What are you supposed to do in the middle of the night? I don't think we have too many sleepwalkers in the side.
"I fully support George and I'm shocked."
Mat Rogers also spoke up: "I was bewildered that someone would take issue with George. George does more to better this team than any other player. He is the most focused and dedicated bloke I've played with. Anyone who criticises him doesn't know him or the game."
Wendell Sailor also backed Gregan: "I don't care what George does the night before the game. What I care about is that he turns up to play. George is the most professional player I have played with in either rugby union or rugby league. He is a real pro and to criticise him for sleeping somewhere else is laughable.
"George never lets the team down and we are lucky to have him. I know how much he has helped my game and I only have full admiration for him."
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