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SYDNEY - John O'Neill is reportedly set to reclaim his throne at the Australian Rugby Union (ARU), giving the troubled union a much-needed shot in the arm in World Cup year.
Australia's rugby media was awash with the badly-kept secret today, with the announcement of the new ARU chief executive reported to be happening as early as tomorrow.
The Australian, the Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph newspapers all reported O'Neill's impending return to the post he held with great success between 1995 and 2003.
The high point of his tenure was the successful staging of the 2003 World Cup, which the Wallabies went within a Jonny Wilkinson dropped goal of winning, and also achieved a A$45 million ($50.84 million) windfall for the ARU.
The ARU didn't renew O'Neill's contract at the end of 2003 and he was replaced by Gary Flowers, who in turn resigned last month, citing factionalism and disunity in the game in Australia.
That, along with the poor recent performances of the Wallabies and the failure of Australia's four Super 14 teams to make this year's playoffs, has seen the sport at a low ebb in a country which won the 1991 and 1999 World Cups.
Relations between the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and their Australian counterparts also deteriorated under Flowers, and reached breaking point when it emerged in 2005 the ARU didn't vote for New Zealand to stage the 2011 World Cup.
Since leaving in 2004, O'Neill became a senior executive with the STW Group, a communications, sports marketing and management company, and switched to round ball administration for a successful stint as chief executive at Football Federation Australia (FFA).
O'Neill emerged as the favourite to replace Flowers in May, but he poured cold water on that suggestion when he publicly stated he would not return if he were required to undergo a job interview.
He re-emerged at the weekend, saying he wanted to help rugby as much as he could.
ARU chairman Peter McGrath wouldn't comment on the reports, saying an appointment was "getting closer" but not finalised.
- NZPA
