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John O'Neill (born 1951) is an Australian sporting administrator. He has been involved with both rugby union and soccer at the national level, after being head of the NSW State Bank. Former CEO of the Australian Rugby Union, instrumental in staging the 2003 Rugby World Cup. 〔 In 2004, O'Neill was appointed head of the newly created Football Federation Australia by businessman Frank Lowy, a position he remained in until 7 November 2006. He then returned to his former position as CEO of the ARU. 〔 ==ARU chief executive== O'Neill held the position as chief executive of Australian Rugby Union between 1995 and 2003. The 2003 Rugby World Cup was originally scheduled to be hosted by Australia and New Zealand. However, in April 2002, the IRB decided that Australia would be the sole host of the tournament after the ARU, led by O'Neill, made a proposal to that effect.〔 〕 Upon visiting New Zealand, with the country upset with this decision, O'Neill described himself as "surprisingly well recognised" and that he "walked through the crowd at Eden Park at one point and that was an adventure. I used that old Paul Keating bit of advice 'don't make eye contact'." He said further that he is "probably a better known face there (N.Z.) than I am here (Australia), which is terrifying."〔()〕 Prior to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, after the International Rugby Board decided that "no formal musical performance will be permitted other than the playing of the national anthems", O'Neill described the decision not to allow the singing of "Waltzing Matilda" as a "half-pregnant situation where you can sing it but not when the players are on the paddock."〔()〕 He attracted much media attention with the statement, even starting a media campaign which included Sally Loane and Alan Jones. John Howard even suggested that "it's ridiculous".〔()〕 O'Neill is credited with the successful organisation of the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup which made the ARU a profit of over 30 million dollars. O'Neill was named Sport Executive Of The Year 2003.〔 〕 O'Neill left the ARU just after the World Cup. ending his contract a year early. He was described as "flamboyant" by Tim Glover, a journalist (). In December 2003, O'Neill announced that he would not seek a renewal of his contract with the ARU. Andrew Stevenson, a journalist for ''The Sydney Morning Heralds Rugby Union website "Rugby Heaven", described the decision as having been reached at a board meeting with the ARU. O'Neill "decided to move on earlier", as the rugby.com.au website described it, from the ARU in January 2004, instead of the end of his contract in December 2004. O'Neill described his decision thus"I said during the Tournament that I would take a family holiday and think about my future over the Christmas, New Year period. Since then, I have had the chance to reflect on the Tournament and its acclaimed success and my eight fruitful years at the helm and have decided that now is the best time for Australian Rugby (Union) and me to move on with Rugby (Union) at such a high point." Bob Tuckey, chairman of the ARU said "On behalf of the Board I would like to thank John for the outstanding contribution he has made to Rugby (Union). We have just staged the best ever Rugby (Union) World Cup and John will leave the game with a much enhanced profile and a significant supporter base." O'Neill himself said "The Board and I have accordingly agreed to bring forward my departure. The ARU and Rugby are in great shape with excellent people and a very bright future."〔() 〕 In 2004, he defended the ARU over an argument between it and the NSWRU over rugby league footballer Andrew Johns.〔 〕 Journalist Spiro Zavos wrote in his weekly column with ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' arguing for the return of John O'Neill to the ARU in 2006.〔()〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「John O'Neill (sport administrator)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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