News of Castle's resignation broke on Thursday night after the chief executive reportedly called chairman Paul McLean to inform him of her decision.

Castle has been the target of criticism by former players in recent months, culminating in several former Wallabies captains seeking major changes in leadership.

Castle was expected to defend herself on the ABC on Thursday, but instead issued a statement announcing her departure from the game.

"I love rugby on every level and I will always love the code and the people I have had the honour of working with since I took this role," Castle said in a statement to the ABC.

"I made it clear to the board that I would stand up and take the flack and do everything possible to serve everyone's best interests.

"In the last couple of hours, it has been made clear to me that the board believes my no longer being CEO would help give them the clear air they believe they need. The game is bigger than any one individual - so this evening I told the Chair that I would resign from the role.

"I will do whatever is needed to ensure an orderly handover. I wish the code and everyone who loves rugby nothing but the best and I would like to thank the people I work with and the broader rugby community for their enormous support."

Castle was the first woman to take the reins of one of Australia's major football codes after taking on the challenge in 2017.

Her time has been punctuated by challenges off the field, including an attack from former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika and the Israel Folau drama, as well as disappointing results by Cheika's team on the field and the decline of Super Rugby.

All Australian rugby sides have struggled to gain momentum with results and with fans over the past decade.

Castle inherited a struggling business and some will argue she wasn't the reason why the game was struggling.

But failing to secure a broadcast deal after spurning Fox Sports and raising the ire of respected Wallabies appears to have been the last straw in her tenure.

While a power play is on for control of Rugby Australia, the governing body is ploughing ahead to get the game back into play in early July.

A seven-man committee has been formed to explore a domestic competition getting underway in two months time.

Melbourne Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson represents Super Rugby clubs on the Return to Play committee, which also includes RA chief medical officer Warren McDonald, RUPA boss Justin Harrison and RA government liaison Anthony French.

Ben Whitaker represents SANZAAR, while the other members are RA head of integrity Gerard McEvilly and Wallabies back Matt Toomua.

Admitting it had been a frustrating time, with player pay cut talks dragging on until this week, Stephenson felt they were finally making headway after the shutdown of Super Rugby due to coronavirus pandemic last month.

"We are pretty happy with the progress we've made so hopefully by Monday we will have a whole list of criteria and decision making and we can start working through those to confirm a date," Stephenson said.

"We all went away and did our own individual projects and spoke to who we needed to to come back with some criteria and now it's all been collated.

"We're looking for the start of July as a starting date.

"We aren't as bullish as the NRL but we're being guided more by Warren McDonald and obviously the government."

Stephenson was also part of lengthy meeting on Thursday between Australian Super Rugby bosses, but Castle was a late scratching.

They were also briefed on RA's financials, including the 2019 financial report and current cash position, and the forecast until the end of the year, with Super Rugby chairs given the same information later in the day.

"I think everyone probably recognised that certain things needed to change and regenerate and review," he said. "I know there's a high-profile chairman who will come into chair Rugby Australia. There's three new board members so I think ultimately those board changes and some strategy change means there will be a bit of freshness."