Queensland’s most-capped player, Sean Hardman, has been elected President of the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU). Hardman (QRU #1102, Wallaby #776), who replaces outgoing president Roger Gould after a six-year tenure, inherits an organisation that recently confirmed its seventh consecutive operating profit.
A stalwart of the game, Hardman made 148 appearances for the Queensland Reds between 1999 and 2010 and earned four caps for the Wallabies.
His election follows a period of stability under Gould, who was recently inducted into the QRU Hall of Fame. Hardman’s return to a leadership role comes after serving as a players’ representative on the board and holding executive positions with the Classic Wallabies and Brothers Rugby Club.
Commenting on his appointment, former wallaby, Hardman, said: “It’s a great honour, especially at this time with rugby having the chance to make a major imprint in Australia over the next few years.”
The QRU’s financial trajectory provided a positive backdrop for the Annual General Meeting. The union reported a 2025 EBITDA of $813,997, a substantial increase from the $199,832 recorded in 2024.
This growth was largely attributed to the successful commercialisation of the Ballymore precinct and match-day revenues, including the Queensland Reds’ high-profile fixture against the British and Irish Lions.
Strategic infrastructure investments, specifically the BMS National Rugby Training Centre, have transformed Ballymore from an annual $1 million liability into a near break-even commercial asset.
This fiscal discipline supports the union’s “unashamedly aspirational” 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, which aims for 100,000 participants and average crowds of 25,000 at Suncorp Stadium by the end of the decade.
The meeting also saw the re-election of vice-presidents Kim Bending and Jen Gillett, while Linda Bennetts was awarded Life Membership for 40 years of service.
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