Lynagh quits IRB

By Jason Harris
October 16 2002

Saracens and Wallaby legend Michael Lynagh has resigned from the International Rugby Board after just six months into his appointment as External Affairs Manager.

The 72 times capped Australian cited "a variety of reasons" for his resignation amid speculation that the postponement of the North v South hemisphere game at Twickenham was the main cause.

Lynagh commented "It's a very sad state of affairs but it just wasn't working out so, rather than prolonging the agony, I felt it was better to go."

Meanwhile, the IRB are to set up an emergency meeting to put into place measures to assist the world's poorer rugby nations in avoiding a cash crisis. The Samoa RFU CEO Philipp Muller said that rugby in the island nations could disappear as early as 2007 if no financial help would be forthcoming.

The North v South clash was to be a vehicle for securing the much-needed money but since its demise, the IRB are aware that other avenues need to be explored. The Board's spokesman Chris Rea told the BBC "Clearly it's an issue for us and proposals will be made as to how this can be addressed, though every suggestion will have to be agreed on in full by the council."