Alumni sporting success
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Two Monash University alumni have secured top positions in the rugby union scene.
Alumnus Brett Gosper (BEc 1981) was recently appointed to Chief Executive Officer of the International Rugby Board (IRG), which is the world governing body for rugby union. In addition to this role, he is also the Managing Director of Rugby World Cup Limited.
Mr Gosper’s professional rugby career began in 1978 when, at the age of 20, he joined the Melbourne Rugby Club. He captained the club before moving to Brisbane in 1981 to play for Queensland. He was recruited by French club Racing Metro in 1981 where he played until his retirement in 1990 when he moved into the field of advertising.
Mr Gosper believes the skills and experience he acquired across his advertising career, coupled with his passion for rugby, were key to him being chosen for his latest role. And he comes in to the IRB at an exciting time; he will oversee the return of rugby union to the Olympic Games in 2016.
Another alumnus, Ross Oakley (BEc 1967), is the current CEO of both the Victorian Rugby Union and the only professional rugby team in Victoria, the Melbourne Rebels.
Mr Oakley, who is best remembered for presiding over the transformation of the Victorian Football League into the Australian Football League, was appointed to the joint role in 2010 in a move designed to promote co-operation between the privately owned Rebels and the grassroots of the game in Victoria.
Director of Monash Sport, Martin Doulton, said that it was pleasing to see the growing influence of Monash alumni involved in high-profile sport roles.
“Considering the global scope of the sport and the fact that Victoria has not traditionally been a significant player on the national or international rugby union stage, it’s a real feather in the cap for Monash to have two alumni playing such a key role in the code's development,” Mr Doulton said.