Your Foundation commits to funding grassroots Rugby in NSW
Reflecting its strong support of Rugby development in New South Wales, The Rugby Club Foundation is pleased to announce an exciting alignment with the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) to directly support NSW Rugby’s development programmes and enhance the growth of the game across the State.
It will support the NSWRU Development Officers, who are embedded in communities across the State working tirelessly to support Clubs in recruiting and retaining participants, developing coaches and officials as well as working with schools to ensure the Rugby footprint continues to grow.
Stirling Mortlock, Treasurer of The Rugby Club Foundation, said: “This partnership complements the relationships The Rugby Club Foundation already has with community Rugby through its longstanding support of NSW Suburban Rugby, NSW Country Rugby, Sydney Premiership Rugby, Sydney Women’s Rugby and the Referees Associations. The Rugby Club Foundation is committed to increasing its financial support of grass roots Rugby as the Foundation grows and develops.”
Having been involved with The Rugby Club under its former club status in Sydney’s CBD since 1998, Angus Bruxner, President of The Rugby Club Foundation, said the partnership with NSW Rugby represented an appropriate and rewarding outcome for the Members of The Rugby Club.
“Through the support of its Members, The Rugby Club Foundation is committed to supporting the game of Rugby at a grass roots level. Development officers are at the coalface of delivering programmes that introduce, encourage and improve the skills of participants.
“The Foundation recognised that by supporting NSW Rugby’s development officer programme, it will be making an important and measurable contribution to Rugby growing to its maximum potential and prioritising the health and wellbeing of the Rugby community and, more specifically, the grass roots level of the game.”
NSWRU CEO, Andrew Hore, said the support from The Rugby Club Foundation will assist NSW Rugby with delivering more community Rugby programmes.
“We are committed to growing Rugby across our State, from the bush to the beach, and the support from The Rugby Club Foundation will certainly assist us in achieving that goal.
“The investment from the Foundation will ensure that our development staff can continue to reach communities across the State, on both a regional and metropolitan basis, to deliver key development programmes around getting more people playing Rugby, supporting Club development as well as strengthening and supporting our coaches.
“We are looking at ways we can invest in the game through innovative ways to deliver coach and official education and upskilling as well as other development tools to better support our Clubs,” said Hore.
“We would like to thank Foundation President Angus Bruxner, the Foundation’s Board and particularly The Rugby Club Foundation Members for their support and long-term commitment to Community Rugby in New South Wales.”
Echoing the sentiment expressed by Andrew Hore, NSWRU General Manager: Community, Mark Green, said NSW Rugby welcomed the support from a partner who shares the same goals and values.
“Through their mantra of ‘Sharing the Spirit of the Game’, The Rugby Club Foundation continues to play a significant role in strengthening Rugby’s influence in New South Wales and beyond. We are delighted to be working together on reaching new participants,” Green said.
