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RA CEO: Why Union and League need to co-exist
SEN • November 25th, 2025 10:36 pm
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh has spoken on the need for Rugby Union and League to co-exist with one another.
Since taking on the role in 2023, the former Wallaby has played an important role in helping the code improve from where it was, as they now find themselves debt-free following the Lions’ tour that occurred earlier in the year.
With that issue resolved, their attention turns to a home World Cup, which gets started in just under two years.
And following what has been a disappointing Spring Tour where the Wallabies lost all four matches against European opposition, the pressure is on the side to have the best personnel possible to avoid repeating their horror group stage exit at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
With this, various Rugby League players are linked to potentially switching codes to compete in the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Waugh having an open mind to any player contemplating a switch to Union.
“Anyone who wants to put their hand up and is interested in being part of the Rugby World Cup and earning their way there,” he declared on SEN 1170’s Boys of Summer.
“Then we’ve got an open mind to talk to those who have a background in Rugby and understand how it’s played.”
With that clearing of debt, this now opens up new possibilities for the codes about potentially trying to identify and convince some players to cross codes ahead of the World Cup, which could help strengthen the squad.
“It certainly changes the landscape,” Waugh said.
“We’ve been fiscally responsible to this point, but clearly, we need to ensure that we’ve got the best possible athletes to take on the world in 2027.
“So, we’re going through that planning stage now to who is the most appropriate personnel to come into Rugby, and we’ll go through that process over the next period of time.”
And while there might be competition amongst themselves and Rugby League in trying to retain some of their star athletes, such as Mark Nawaqanitawase, who has already committed to Union after the 2026 NRL season, Waugh has reiterated a need for both codes to try to co-exist with their different products.
“As I’ve always said, we need to co-exist with Rugby League rather than going head-to-head all the time,” he added.
“I think we are a different proposition to Rugby League and we’ll continue on that journey.
“(It’s) great to see Mark do as well as what he has in the NRL and representing the Kangaroos, and obviously very interested to come back and represent the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup in 2027.”
The Wallabies will soon learn their fate in regard to whom they’ll play in the Rugby World Cup, with the Group Stage draw set to take place on December 3.
