Dan Herbert replaces Hamish McLennan as Rugby Australia chairman

Rugby Australia has confirmed that former Wallaby Dan Herbert will replace Hamish McLennan as chair of the governing body.

The news follows McLennan was voted out in the last of a series of emergency board meetings on Sunday following Australia's Rugby World Cup debacle in France where they were eliminated in the opening round for the first time.

Head coach Eddie Jones was also removed from the coaching role following the tournament but McLennan said he had no plans of quitting. However, he was voted out as his move to bring in Jones replacing Dave Rennie earlier in the year backfired.

Herbert has played 67 Tests for the Wallabies between 1994 and 2002. He was a vital part of the 'Golden Era' of Australian Rugby, which celebrated a World Cup victory, a British Lions series victory, a Rugby Championship and five consecutive Bledisloe Cups. He also featured in 82 games for Queensland Reds across eight seasons.

“There’s lot of admiration and respect for Hamish and what he’s done stepping into this seat when probably not many people would have done it,” said Herbert.

“He led us through COVID and has really been fundamental about the changes that are required and that’s not going to change with me and the directors. We are steadfast on that.

“We feel that moving forward, the game requires everyone to unite. And we felt that that would only be achieved with a change in the chair role.

“Certainly this group of stakeholders felt that they weren’t being heard, and that they didn’t like the direction that they were being taken in, or the style.

“There will always be a level of friction there … but it’s got to be respectful.”