Lynagh steps down from IRB
October 16, 2002

Former Australia star Michael Lynagh has resigned from his role with the International Rugby Board after the failure to get an inter-hemisphere match off the ground.

The 38-year-old quit his responsibilities for "global development and promotion" of the game after he recommended the postponement of a north-versus south match slated for November 30 when it became clear that interest in such a match was at best lukewarm.

Lynagh had worked with all the top rugby-playing unions to try to arrange the match but to no avail. He wanted to postpone the match but was outvoted and the game has been scrapped.

He told The Times: "I'm resigning for a variety of reasons, not all of them personal.

"It's a very sad state of affairs but it just wasn't working out so, rather than prolonging the agony, I felt it was better to go."

Lynagh chose to go on living in Treviso, Italy when he took up the post rather than moving closer to the IRB's headquarters in Dublin.

He is still one of rugby's most famous figures after 11 years at the top of the international game with Australia.

He retired from international rugby in 1995 after the World Cup defeat to England and retired from playing entirely in 1998.

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