Super Rugby 2024
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The Super Rugby Pacific Board has appointed Jack Mesley the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Super Rugby Pacific (SRP).
Sydney-based Mesley, who will commence in the role on 22 July, boasts more than 20 years of professional experience in marketing and operations, and currently holds the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Australian Professional A-Leagues.
Mesley said he was excited by the opportunity to engage with the competition and the fans, to help deliver the best possible entertainment product and to drive deeper engagement with the game.
“This is a monumental step for the unions and clubs to come together with a real intent to grow Super Rugby Pacific and put fans at the centre,” Mesley said.
“I am looking forward to working with closely with the Super Rugby Pacific clubs to understand their commonalities and differences, and to come together to ignite the flame for generations to come.”
A graduate of the University of Canberra, Jack has extensive and broad experience in driving fan engagement and achieving commercial outcomes. Prior to his role at the A-Leagues, Jack was the Chief Commercial Officer at NRL club Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and spent nine years in brand and marketing at leading beverages company Lion.
Super Rugby Pacific Chair Kevin Malloy said Mesley’s strong marketing background and practical skillset made him ideally suited to the Super Rugby Pacific CEO role.
“What set Jack apart from a strong pool of candidates following a thorough search was his passion for rugby, his enthusiasm and a breadth of experience in both marketing and sports,” Malloy said.
“We were looking for someone who isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves, given the joint venture is still relatively new. Jack sees the potential of the competition and wants to build on the success we’ve had to date. And he understands the need to form strong relationships with the broad range of stakeholders. We are really looking forward to having him onboard come July.”
BIO:
Jack Mesley is a commercially minded sport administrator who has a strong background in brand and marketing. With over 20 years of experience in building brands and driving business growth through sports and entertainment partnerships.He is currently the Chief Commercial Officer at Australian Professional Leagues, home to the Isuzu UTE A-League Men, Liberty A-League Women and E-League.
Prior to A-Leagues, Jack was the Chief Commercial Officer at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and held various senior marketing and commercial positions at Lion, Diageo and the Asian PGA. Having held executive roles as both a sponsor and rights holder, Jack is uniquely placed to spearhead brand growth and maximise returns.
Jack is a passionate rugby fan, having played rugby for the Brumbies Under 19s while studying at the University of Canberra. He spends his weekends on the side-lines of grassroots rugby, with his son playing.
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@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
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@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
Aren't they player union driven, in both NZ and Oz, so the new "independent" corporate Super Rugby will still need to work within that framework I assume?
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@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
Agree. Super rugby has, in my view, huge potential. But not if it continues to be subservient to test rugby. This must be kicked into touch in some way
I just hope they have found someone great. Not just OK as they couldn't find someone who was super-duper.
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Surprised that NZR wasn't more involved in this recruitment
Super Rugby Pacific chair Kevin Malloy, New Zealand Rugby director Rowena Davenport, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh and RUPA chief executive Justin Harrison played key roles in the hunt for the chief executive.
The position attracted about 290 applicants, and recruitment agency Robert Walters whittled that down to a long list before rugby bosses settled on a final three.
Mesley emerged as the successful candidate from that process and will now take the chief executive role at a crucial time in Super Rugby’s history.
The future of the troubled Melbourne Rebels remains up in the air, while new TV deals in New Zealand and Australia for 2026 and beyond are up for negotiation between NZ Rugby, Rugby Australia and their respective broadcast partners.
The NRL is also an increasingly bullish competitor, with the Warriors performing well and the competition determined to expand.
Super Rugby Pacific will need to be smart to deal with those challenges but Malloy told Stuff on Tuesday that Mesley had the right mix of attributes to succeed, despite not having a background in rugby administration.
“I think a really important aspect of this job will be stakeholder management,” Malloy said. “He certainly came across as very strong with people skills.
"The other thing is, we wanted somebody in this role who is, ‘Roll
“You're not going to have a hell of a lot of resource necessarily.“So, this isn't the role for a 20-year veteran CEO who is used to having lots of people running around after them.
“This is for a young gun with something to prove. That's the sort of person that we saw in Jack.”
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@Winger said in Super Rugby 2024:
@nzzp said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Machpants said in Super Rugby 2024:
Finally!
Interesting to see how rests for international players get handled now
Agree. Super rugby has, in my view, huge potential. But not if it continues to be subservient to test rugby. This must be kicked into touch in some way
I just hope they have found someone great. Not just OK as they couldn't find someone who was super-duper.
TBH, you've got league if you want club/franchise to dominate rather than tests.
Also, that face and added to his "marketing" background has me already feeling nervous.
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@Nepia i think there is a middle ground too be found, international and Franchise/club are different things and should be marketed as such, one doesnt need to be subservient to the other. if we can make the franchise game as popular as NRL and then the international game steps in where we have State of Origin then we'd be onto something
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@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia i think there is a middle ground too be found, international and Franchise/club are different things and should be markets as such, one doesnt need to be subservient to the other. if we can make the franchise game as popular as NRL and then the international game set in where we have State of Origin then we'd be onto something
Yeah, but many players often sit out club games during SoO season and this seems to be the main issue that people complain about when talking about the test player breaks in Super Rugby.
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i see it as a bit different as you can see what theyre doing, in football the lower leagues just carry on during international games and teams just have to live with it...which is different to players running water and telling people they would rather be playing like Nuggie did a few times
but we also dont need to have the international games during like SoO, i was more meaning international picks up the equivalent passion/interest/bandwidth
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@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
i see it as a bit different as you can see what theyre doing, in football the lower leagues just carry on during international games and teams just have to live with it...which is different to players running water and telling people they would rather be playing like Nuggie did a few times
but we also dont need to have the international games during like SoO, i was more meaning international picks up the equivalent passion/interest/bandwidth
I'll admit, I'm not sure of your point anymore.
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@Nepia you mentioned, if we try and compare super rugby with NRL, taking breaks and how that annoyed people, i kind of replied to the point and said i felt players not playing club games because theyre playing the next level up is a little different to the ABs that are just rested
BUT
my point before that wasn't about international games being the equivalent of SoO in the calendar (ie mid week)...but more in how we market them, as these huge spectacles players are genuinely honored to be selected for...rather than the internations being their main job and club game almost just to keep them fit
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@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia i think there is a middle ground too be found, international and Franchise/club are different things and should be markets as such, one doesnt need to be subservient to the other. if we can make the franchise game as popular as NRL and then the international game set in where we have State of Origin then we'd be onto something
Yeah, but many players often sit out club games during SoO season and this seems to be the main issue that people complain about when talking about the test player breaks in Super Rugby.
come on you're better than that
Nathan Cleary isn't taking games off in April for SoO, he's taking the game off on the weekend after playing on Wednesday night. Actually the number of guys that front up on the weekend surprises me every year.
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@mariner4life given how punishing SoO can be!
an AB getting a rest in Feb or March....because they had a tough season the year before and might have another one ahead....is not the same as guys that take a sat off after a wed game
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Especially forwards. Actually even backs now with modern rugby league being built on tough early metres from your outside backs
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@mariner4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia i think there is a middle ground too be found, international and Franchise/club are different things and should be markets as such, one doesnt need to be subservient to the other. if we can make the franchise game as popular as NRL and then the international game set in where we have State of Origin then we'd be onto something
Yeah, but many players often sit out club games during SoO season and this seems to be the main issue that people complain about when talking about the test player breaks in Super Rugby.
come on you're better than that
Nathan Cleary isn't taking games off in April for SoO, he's taking the game off on the weekend after playing on Wednesday night. Actually the number of guys that front up on the weekend surprises me every year.
The point is that big name players don't play all games, yet I'm constantly hearing complaints that one of the problems with SR is the big name players don't play all games.
Where they take a break really doesn't matter, they're still not playing all games.
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@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
@mariner4life said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia i think there is a middle ground too be found, international and Franchise/club are different things and should be markets as such, one doesnt need to be subservient to the other. if we can make the franchise game as popular as NRL and then the international game set in where we have State of Origin then we'd be onto something
Yeah, but many players often sit out club games during SoO season and this seems to be the main issue that people complain about when talking about the test player breaks in Super Rugby.
come on you're better than that
Nathan Cleary isn't taking games off in April for SoO, he's taking the game off on the weekend after playing on Wednesday night. Actually the number of guys that front up on the weekend surprises me every year.
The point is that big name players don't play all games, yet I'm constantly hearing complaints that one of the problems with SR is the big name players don't play all games.
Where they take a break really doesn't matter, they're still not playing all games.
apples and oranges but you do you
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@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2024:
@Nepia you mentioned, if we try and compare super rugby with NRL, taking breaks and how that annoyed people, i kind of replied to the point and said i felt players not playing club games because theyre playing the next level up is a little different to the ABs that are just rested
BUT
my point before that wasn't about international games being the equivalent of SoO in the calendar (ie mid week)...but more in how we market them, as these huge spectacles players are genuinely honored to be selected for...rather than the internations being their main job and club game almost just to keep them fit
I have no problem with your point about marketing SR, but I don't think the players have to play every game for the comp to be successful, in fact that requirement is problematic as every comp has injuries etc.
I know that I brought the league comparison in response to Winger, but I find it somewhat problematic that we're always comparing rugby to other sports, and how they operate, especially the NRL. They're similar sports, but not the be all and end all, rugby is a test focussed sport and the players union clearly think stand downs are needed for player welfare in "rugby" in the SH. I can handle the Chiefs AB's having the odd week off if it's better for their career longevity. It's not like we have weekends where all the top players are out.
@mariner4life Comparing rugby to NRL is apples and oranges too, but you do you too.
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@Nepia there are those that have said that, i had the same pointed out when ive suggested the top NPC playing super rugby..."but the the best players in the small unions might not play"
..but i hoestly think its very different to not seeing the play 3 days after we've just seen them light up the biggest stage
i think we HAVE to look at other sports....because there are very few successful rugby comps....and we are also talking about a huge overlap in market....so not looking at what
the same people are positively responding too in NRL....is just asking to keep failing
