Former Wallabies captain Stephen Moore says Raelene Castle's departure as Rugby Australia (RA) chief executive must kickstart "major changes" for the domestic game, which is struggling on and off the field.
Castle announced last night she was stepping down as RA chief executive, a post she has held since late 2017, explaining she no longer felt she had the support of the governing body's board.
Her decision to quit came two days after a no-confidence letter — signed by a number of ex-Wallabies captains — sent to RA was made public, calling for an overhaul of its leadership.
Moore, who was one of those who signed the letter, said he acknowledged the contribution made by Castle during her time at RA.
But he said there needed to be leadership change at RA for it to recover from its poor financial position, as well as for the Wallabies and Australia's Super Rugby teams to improve their on-field performances.
"These problems are deep-seated, they have been going on for quite some time," Moore told ABC News Breakfast.
"A lot of the players involved in the last week or so have been contributing in different ways over a long period of time but we haven't been able to make the changes that are needed.
"This is a major, urgent matter. Rugby in Australia is deteriorating at a rapid rate and no one is happy about that. We need to do something really major to turn things around."
There has been much speculation that the initial push to remove Castle from her role was to pave the way for another retired Wallabies skipper, Phil Kearns, to take her place.
Kearns, who also signed the letter issued to RA earlier this week, was a candidate for chief executive when Castle was appointed.
Moore, who played 129 Tests for the Wallabies, said the letter was not designed to move Kearns into the chief executive position, nor to promote Nick Farr-Jones as a potential RA chairman.
"That is not correct, that is certainly not the intention here," he said.
"There will be a process to appoint a CEO, that would be the appropriate avenue but it is far too early to comment on any of that.
"At the moment we are united as a group together and we want to try to promote the required changes.
"These changes are not minor. They are very, very major changes to the governance of the game in Australia and the way the game is structured and delivered right from grassroots through to the professional game."
Moore confirmed there had been further correspondence between some of the former captains and RA, amid rumours a second letter had been issued to the organisation.
"There's been correspondence between Rugby Australia and also the group of Wallaby captains so that is ongoing. That has been really constructive," he said.
"We look forward to that continuing. We want to provide solutions and there are solutions that have been provided.
"So I would really ask anyone who's commenting publicly to try and find all the facts that they can before making their assumptions and we are working as hard as we can to promote these changes internally."
'The game is bigger than any one individual'
Castle, who has vast sporting administrative experience in her native New Zealand and Australia, issued a statement exclusively to ABC's 7.30 program last night, highlighting her reasons for stepping down as RA chief executive.
"I love rugby on every level and I will always love the code and the people I have had the honour of working with since I took this role," she said.
"I made it clear to the board that I would stand up and take the flak and do everything possible to serve everyone's best interests.
"In the last couple of hours, it has been made clear to me that the board believes my no longer being the CEO would help give them the clear air they believe they need.
"The game is bigger than any one individual — so this evening I told the chair [Paul McLean] that I would resign from the role.
"I will do whatever is needed to ensure an orderly handover. I wish the code and everyone who loves rugby nothing but the best and I would like to thank the people I work with and the broader rugby community for their enormous support."
The fallout from her decision to leave RA may impact on new Wallabies coach Dave Rennie, who has previously indicated he might not take up the role if Castle was no longer chief executive.
But Castle, speaking before making the announcement she was leaving RA, said she expected New Zealander Rennie would take up his position as Wallabies coach.
"He will come here regardless of where I sit," she said.
