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Kiwi Raelene Castle has emerged as a left-field candidate to take over as chief executive officer of the Australian Rugby Union.
Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver is under intense pressure over his handling of the Super Rugby cull.
However, in an interview with Sydney's Daily Telegraph, ARU chairman Cameron Clyne denied he had been in contact with Castle and insisted the board had not withdrawn its support for Pulver.
"It is obviously challenging times but that's not the view of the board at all," Clyne said.
"He has certainly not said that (he will step down) and the board has no intention of asking him to go."
The ARU are meeting next week to discuss the messy process of removing one of their five Super Rugby teams.
Pulver has been heavily criticised for keeping a low profile amid legal threats from Rugby WA and Melbourne Rebels, with former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer and player Brendan Cannon both calling on him to step down.
Castle is a highly respected sports administrator on both sides of the Tasman following her time in charge of Netball New Zealand and the Bulldogs.
Clyne said that while the board had considered the ARU leadership for next year, there are more pressing issues to address first.
"With Bill we have a conversation closer to that time (February) but there is no movement at this point," Clyne told the Daily Telegraph.
"Any new CEO you would want to be set up for success and I am not sure the governance structure at the moment is there for that."
Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver is under intense pressure over his handling of the Super Rugby cull.
However, in an interview with Sydney's Daily Telegraph, ARU chairman Cameron Clyne denied he had been in contact with Castle and insisted the board had not withdrawn its support for Pulver.
"It is obviously challenging times but that's not the view of the board at all," Clyne said.
"He has certainly not said that (he will step down) and the board has no intention of asking him to go."
The ARU are meeting next week to discuss the messy process of removing one of their five Super Rugby teams.
Pulver has been heavily criticised for keeping a low profile amid legal threats from Rugby WA and Melbourne Rebels, with former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer and player Brendan Cannon both calling on him to step down.
Castle is a highly respected sports administrator on both sides of the Tasman following her time in charge of Netball New Zealand and the Bulldogs.
Clyne said that while the board had considered the ARU leadership for next year, there are more pressing issues to address first.
"With Bill we have a conversation closer to that time (February) but there is no movement at this point," Clyne told the Daily Telegraph.
"Any new CEO you would want to be set up for success and I am not sure the governance structure at the moment is there for that."
