Rugby Australia CEO Raelene CastleGETTY IMAGES
Rugby Australia is stockpiling a "fighting fund" to "fend off the poachers" and keep young talent in the 15-man game, according to Julian Linden of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. Armed with cash from Rugby Australia’s Foundation and wealthy supporters of the game, RA wants to "shore up" its "most exciting young prospects" as part of a new national approach to helping the Wallabies "get back on top of the world." RA CEO Raelene Castle said, "We want to make sure that we secure the best young talent and keep it here so we've had a number of donors step forward and that will allow us to secure the talent that we identify." Castle added that there is no plan to "try and plunder" the National Rugby League ranks, saying that any new funds "would be spent on keeping younger players." She said, "Our schools and youth development systems are doing a great job at identifying, developing and delivering that talent. We just need to make sure that when they get in to the competitive landscape that we're in a situation to secure them" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 12/17).
