Raelene Castle appointed as as new chief executive of Rugby Australia

Rugby Australia has confirmed Raelene Castle as the new chief executive succeeding Bill Pulver.

In the process, she becomes the first female boss of any of the major national unions in world rugby and has previously been chief executives of Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Netball New Zealand.

She also becomes the first woman to be named as the boss of any of Australia's four major football codes.

Castle will take in charge from January next year following Pulver's resignation that came in August.

Rugby Australia chairman Cameron Clyne said Castle was the standout applicant from a list of more than 200 candidates.

He said: "Raelene impressed the board with her vision for rugby and her clear understanding of what needs to be done to strengthen and unite the code at all levels.

"Raelene will bring a fresh set of eyes to the challenges and opportunities at Rugby Australia, bringing to us her learnings from other codes."

Former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns had been widely tipped to take over rugby's top job before reports that Ms Castle had clinched the role surfaced.