Union has slipped in pecking order - O'Neill

Former Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill believes the sport has slipped to the bottom of the pecking order of the country’s football codes.

O’Neill, who left his post with the ARU after the 2003 World Cup, reckons rugby union now trails behind Australian Rules, rugby league and soccer.

He considers Aussie Rules “the NFL of Australia”, while rugby league has been energised by the success of this year’s Tri-Nations series and football is still riding the crest of the wave generated by the Socceroos’ amazing performance in this year’s World Cup in Germany.

“In the after-glow of the World Cup and the A-League you would, by a lot of measures, have football at number three and rugby union at number four,” O’Neill told The Daily Telegraph.

“As constructive criticism, I think rugby’s position has slipped considerably in recent years.”

The ARU’s reluctance to address the Wallabies’ lack of success is another indication of the sport’s state of decline in Australia, according to O’Neill, who was stunned by coach John Connolly’s positive assessment of the recent spring tour of Europe.

“I can’t count the number of people who have stopped me to say it’s one of the most ludicrous things they’ve ever heard,” he said.

“And it tells you about the state of rugby union’s psychology.”

O’Neill, who has accepted a full-time executive role with the STW Group, has admitted he is unlikely to return to the ARU, who he feels has not shown him enough respect for his contribution to the game.

“I think there are people on the board of the ARU and one person behind the scenes – a former ARU director – who simply don’t want me back involved,” he said.

“So I don’t believe an invitation will be forthcoming. I honestly don’t think they believe they’re in a sufficiently severe state of distress to need someone of my background, credibility and experience.”