Former Wallaby PHIL WAUGH "is running for a seat on one of the state’s most prestigious boards," the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, and wants to help the push to make Allianz Stadium ‘‘one of the great rectangular sports venues in the world.’’ Waugh is one of 29 nominees for two member-elected positions on the board, which oversees the SCG and Allianz Stadium precinct and boasts the likes of ALAN JONES, Westpac CEO GAIL KELLY, Harvey Norman CEO KATIE PAGE and former Test cricketers STEVE WAUGH and STUART MACGILL, as trustees (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 4/29). ... Former French national rugby team and Toulon coach BERNARD LAPORTE said that "he intends to run for the presidency of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) in 2016." Laporte said that "he wants to change things in the FFR, notably at the top where he said officials stayed too long in their positions." He said, "I intend to see my current contract through to 2015 and then, yes, I intend to put forward my candidacy in the elections of 2016. I find it totally unacceptable that there are people who have been in positions of authority in the federation for 30 years. They are egotists and are not there to serve the sport, only themselves" (AFP, 4/25). ... Boxer WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO's hopes of competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics "have been dealt a blow after he failed to get permission to take part in his country's qualifying competition." The exec board of the Ukrainian national boxing federation has "never given permission to either Klitschko or his older brother Vitali to take part in qualifying for the Games in Rio de Janeiro, meaning he has missed the deadline" (AAP, 4/29).
APOLOGY NOT ACCEPTED: Former National Rugby League side Melbourne Storm CEO BRIAN WALDRON "has unreservedly apologised for the role he played in the infamous salary cap scandal that led to the NRL club being stripped of its 2007 and 2009 premierships." In an online column, Waldron wrote, "Regretfully, I got ahead of myself. It’s absolutely appropriate that I apologise to all those hurt by my actions and I do so without reservation" (THE AGE, 4/29). Former news CEO and Chair JOHN HARTIGAN "has refused to accept a public apology" from Waldron, claiming it had come “many years too late.” Hartigan said, "I don’t accept apologies. There would be something (motivating him for the apology) other than Christianity. It’s not for me to surmise but it sure as hell isn’t setting the record straight. One, he’s many years too late, and two, he brought a very proud club to its knees" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 4/30).
