It is a new era for rugby in New South Wales, following the decision to bring NSW Rugby Union and the NSW Waratahs together as one unified organisation.
At the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) the State’s affiliates voted unanimously in favour of a change to the constitution to endorse the two Boards coming together as one, bringing community rugby and high performance rugby together.
While the two organisations have been administered as one entity over the past 16 months, CEO Andrew Hore said the formal endorsement of the affiliates was significant.
“This decision follows an extensive consultation process with all key parties and to have our affiliates recognise the importance of this decision for growing rugby in New South Wales, speaks volumes for the direction of our sport.
“Bringing together two organisations is never a straightforward process but we are proving that as a State we value unity and we make decisions that will enhance the growth and development of the game,” Hore said.
In another positive outcome, the organisation recorded a consolidated break-even position and ended 2017 with a net equity of $1.1 million.
“We recognise that 2017 was a challenging year for us for a range of reasons but it was encouraging to report a stable financial position at our AGM. This also underlines our commitment to continue to make rugby the sport of choice for men and women, and girls and boys in our State,” Hore said.
Hore said the new constitution is consistent with best practice principles in the Australian sporting community as highlighted in the Australian Sport Commission’s Sports Governance Principles, and amongst publicly listed entities in the corporate sector.
“The introduction of Advisory Councils, including country, metro and elite will serve as an intermediary between the Board and affiliates and will provide for the co-ordination of strategy and operational issues across all stakeholders,” Hore said.
At the AGM, former NSW Waratahs and Wallabies fullback Marty Roebuck was elected the new President of NSW Rugby while Al Baxter was confirmed as the new Vice President.Baxter, a former NSW Waratahs and Australian representative.
Roebuck takes over from Mick Mathers, the Eastwood Club stalwart who served as President of NSW Rugby from 2015.
Mathers, who made his debut for NSW against New Zealand Maori at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1979, ended up playing 14 times for his State and two Tests for the Wallabies.
