ARU boss Bill Pulver says he will resign at emergency meeting if necessary
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Australian Rugby Union chief executive Bill Pulver says he will resign immediately from his position at Tuesday's emergency general meeting (EGM) if everyone in the room agrees he is no longer the right man for the job.
But Pulver has questioned whether an EGM is really necessary, labelling one of the resolutions put forward as "nonsense" and adding that if people wanted him gone, there were other ways to go about it.
Pressure has been mounting on Pulver and the ARU following the announcement in April that a Super Rugby team would be cut, saying at the time a decision would be made within 72 hours.
The Rugby Union Players' Association and Victorian Rugby Union last month called for an EGM to discuss the process of cutting a team, which will go ahead at ARU headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.
Regarding his position as chief executive, Pulver said he would step down if necessary and revealed, in any event, this would be his last job in sports administration.
"If everyone in the room stood up on Tuesday and said, 'Bill, we think it's time for change now', I will step down immediately," Pulver said. "It's not an issue of anyone having to push me out.
"If the members of Australian rugby felt the game would be better suited with me gone, they don't need to call an EGM. Technically, they can't do that [put forward a vote of no confidence in the board] because it would have to be a resolution they brought before the EGM with 21 days notice. That's not something I fear.