Rugby Australia has today announced the Governor-General of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley, AC, DSC (Retd) as patron of Australian Rugby.
A regular attendee at Wallabies and Wallaroos Test matches with his wife, Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, the 27th Governor-General of Australia shared the news of his appointment during his farewell address to Australia’s 2019 Rugby World Cup squad at an official luncheon in Sydney today.
“I am delighted to become Patron of Rugby Australia,” His Excellency said.
“From kids playing on the weekend, to veterans willing aching bodies on for one more season, Rugby does so much to bring the community together. Like so many Australians, Linda and I enjoy few things more than getting behind our national and local teams and cheering them on. We were pleased that in our first couple of weeks in the job we saw our Women’s team in action against Japan and are both eagerly awaiting the World Cup, confident that the Wallabies will do us all proud.
“As Patron I plan on being a very active and enthusiastic ‘supporter-in-chief’.”
General Hurley succeeds former Governor-General of Australia, General the Hon Sir Peter Cosgrove who served as Australian Rugby patron since 2014.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive, Raelene Castle thanked the Governor-General Hurley for accepting the patronage and for his long support of Rugby.
“Rugby has enjoyed the support of Governors-General, for many years, particularly at Brumbies, Waratahs and Wallabies matches across the country and we are honoured to have the Governor-General accept our invitation to become our patron.
“His Excellency General Hurley carries on the tradition of Governors-General serving as patron of our game in the footsteps of Sir Peter and Dame Quentin Bryce both of whom shared Governor-General Hurley’s love for Rugby.”
