Just a day after Wallaroos players revolted against Rugby Australia, the governing body has announced added support to the women's game.
Jaime Fernandez, a rower who thrice competed at the Olympics and won silver in the 2000 Sydney games, has been signed as Rugby Australia's women's high-performance manager.
He arrives at the organisation having previously been the deputy performance director at Rowing Australia.
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Fernandez will work with the Wallaroos, Super W teams, and on pathway programs to "develop high-performance environments and implement clear standards on the path to professionalism."
Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh hailed the key signing, which comes three years out from the next Women's Rugby World Cup in England.
"With WXV1 in New Zealand fast approaching in October this year, followed by the 2025 and 2029 Women's Rugby World Cups in England and Australia, Rugby Australia is committed to high-performance investment in Women's Rugby," said Waugh.
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"Jaime has a proven track record over more than a decade at Rowing Australia, and we look forward to drawing on his exceptional experience to further improve our national women's programs.
"Community pathways are integral to the development of the next generation of female athletes, and I have every confidence that Jaime will advance Rugby Australia's growth of the women's game."
The announcement comes after players took to social media to express their disappointment in Rugby Australia's decision to fly wives and girlfriends of the Wallabies players to the Rugby World Cup farewell.
Whether the announcement was in reaction to the outcry remains unclear, although the timing is curious in itself.
In a combined effort, a statement outlined frustrations players had with the organisation and its so-called lack of funding for the women's game.
Wallaroos players said it was time the chairman, board, and CEO prioritise women's rugby in an effort to match the success and hype surrounding the Matildas at this year's FIFA Women's World Cup.
"The future of our games hangs in the balance," the statement read in part.
"It's your move, Rugby Australia."
Rugby Australia, it would seem, has made a move with the signing of Fernandez.
Speaking a day after the social media storm, former Wallaroos and NSW Waratahs player turned NRLW Sydney Roosters star Grace Hamilton said the post would net positive outcomes.
"It's really driving some support around the game about what needs to change and I do honestly think it will positively impact the girls and leading forward as well," Hamilton told Sea Fm.
Fresh off the back of the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and the Matildas' epic run to the semi-final, Hamilton is hopeful women's rugby will receive similar support so that the Wallaroos can be front-runners when the Women's Rugby World Cup arrives Down Under in 2029.
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"We've got a lot of work to do to get to that point to get that support like the Matildas did but it's about allowing the girls to feel valued in that environment," she explained.
"Obviously we're known to the fact that it's a male-dominated sport and it's stereotypically is like that but we also know, now, it's a place where we've got to have an environment where males and females can coexist and be able to perform.
"Everything comes from the success of the Wallabies and we know that is the driving fact of funding in Rugby Australia and that's just the model there is.
"Everyone looks at it like it's a fight against Rugby Australia or the Wallabies, it's just a plea for help like 'Hey, you need to respect us as athletes'.
"And that's the thing, we're so supportive of the Wallabies and what they do and how the players are, and we have great relationships with them, it's more about how to coexist with them and be promoted like them, then we're building a pathway.
"We're not saying girls need full-time contracts tomorrow, it's about putting a plan that's in place that can get to a point."
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