CEO Message: 2020 Super Rugby season

Mon, Sep 7, 2020, 8:35 PM
Waratahs Media
by Waratahs Media
Paul Doorn and the team at NSWRU will be working to provide updates on the 2021 season as soon as possible.
Paul Doorn and the team at NSWRU will be working to provide updates on the 2021 season as soon as possible.

It certainly hasn’t been the Super Rugby season we expected it to be when things kicked off in January this year.

 

It’s been a challenging time – not just for rugby – but for our entire community and everyone at the NSW Waratahs thanks you for your continued support.

 

Members are the lifeblood of any great sporting organisation and we’re fortunate to have a wonderful collection of committed, passionate fans here at the NSW Waratahs.

 

Your support is something that our playing group, coaching and administration staff all greatly appreciate – especially when times are tough.

 

Times certainly have been tough, a collection of difficult and frustrating days and months at the postponement of the season made us feel that rugby wouldn’t return in 2020. That challenge was faced with a collective resolve by our rugby community – which gives us all great hope for the future of our game in the face of uncertainty.

 

Throughout the two iterations of Super Rugby this year we’ve done our best to fulfill our commitment to you, our Members, in trying circumstances.

 

With the return of Super Rugby AU we were able to provide our Members with access to NSW Waratahs home games, albeit with a non-traditional matchday experience as we adhered to necessary bio-security protocols.

 

This was part of tireless work across our organisation, in partnership with our fellow State Unions and Rugby Australia and we thank you all for the support you showed us throughout.

 

We’re extremely proud of the effort that has gone into providing access to seven of our previously expected eight home games and we hope you enjoyed attending live sport once again.

 

Whilst the disappointment of narrowly missing finals footy still lingers – following Saturday afternoon’s cliff hanger between the Rebels and the Force – it only fuels our desire to return to the pointy end of the competition in 2021.

 

Rob Penney, his management team and the entire squad will no doubt want to be the masters of their own destiny next year after finishing so close at the end of our regular season.

 

With the improvement we’ve seen over the course of the year and the wave of talent that has been unearthed, it’s set be an exciting period for our club in the coming years – we look forward to taking that journey with you.

 

The work on that is only just beginning, as we review our football operations and finalise our squad for whatever shape the Super Rugby competition takes next year.

 

As we deal with the effects of COVID-19, we appreciate the various ways it has impacted people across the country. Throughout this year we’ve endeavoured to provide support as you’ve needed as well as keep you connected with the Waratahs, and we’ll look to do so once again as we plan for 2021.

 

Once we understand more about our competition next year, we’ll begin to inform you of how we intend to make that a reality.

 

Once again, thank you for your support this year it has meant so much to all of us.

 

Enjoy the remainder of the club rugby season, (hopefully) some Test rugby and the warmer months ahead.

 

We look forward to seeing you in the stands, supporting the NSW Waratahs in 2021 and celebrating the many things that make our game so great.

 

Paul Doorn

CEO NSW Rugby/Waratahs


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