Rugby CEO taking on top job at R&A.

[gvogel]

Mark Darbon leaves the Northampton Saints Rugby organization to take over Martin Slumbers' job, and the greatest office in sports overlooking the first tee at the Old Course.

 

I assume we will see a better job of blocking and tackling out of the R&A.

[Duct Tape]

There is no blocking in rugby union (or league too I think).  

[gvogel]

19 minutes ago, Duct Tape said:

There is no blocking in rugby union (or league too I think).  

Good point, literally.

[jholz]

Rugby has absolutely EXPLODED in popularity over the last two decades. Good hire!

[Chunkitgood]

Because marketing is what’s important, right?

[tomjas]

10 hours ago, jholz said:

Rugby has absolutely EXPLODED in popularity over the last two decades. Good hire!

Rugby has absolutely TANKED in the last few years with the game in real trouble in England, Australia and even New Zealand & the professional game is propped up by wealthy French & Japanese corporates

 

Rugby is literally the last place to look for sports executives 

[JungleJimbo]

This podcast “The Chipping Forecast” has a discussion on Mark Darbon’s appointment as CEO of the R&A (from Timestamp ~6mins)

 

 

[iBanesto]

18 hours ago, Duct Tape said:

There is no blocking in rugby union (or league too I think).  

 

League has obstruction rules.

[klebs01]

19 hours ago, Duct Tape said:

There is no blocking in rugby union (or league too I think).  

That was my first thought. 🤣

[jholz]

14 hours ago, tomjas said:

Rugby has absolutely TANKED in the last few years with the game in real trouble in England, Australia and even New Zealand & the professional game is propped up by wealthy French & Japanese corporates

 

Rugby is literally the last place to look for sports executives 

 

Um yeah...

 

I'm left to assume that your sarcasm meter is at the shop. 🙂 

[idrive]

Seems like a strange hire.

 

Don't see the correlation between the two.

 

Guessing he's built like a middle linebacker?  😁 🤣

[golfortennis]

On 7/2/2024 at 2:35 PM, idrive said:

Seems like a strange hire.

 

Don't see the correlation between the two.

 

Guessing he's built like a middle linebacker?  😁 🤣

 

The European Tour hired a guy whose signature achievement was to absolutely kill Rogers communications by signing a 12 year $5.6 billion dollar deal with the NHL.  It's hockey and it's Canada, but like everything else, you can pay too much for something.  It was obvious very quickly there was going to be no return on that deal, but that didn't stop the geniuses at Wentworth from hiring him to wreck their entity.  Or maybe they just really liked the blue glasses.

 

It's a club, and once you are in, you can hop around and fail miserably and still land in a cushy job.