2009 New South Wales Rugby Union Annual Report

Transcription

1 2009 New South Wales Rugby Union Annual Report

2 Table of Contents Office Bearers and Affiliated Unions 1 Chairman s Report 2 Chief Executive Officer s Report 4 President s Report 6 HSBC Waratahs Milestones Awards 11 NSW Premiership Rugby 12 Media & Communications 13 Marketing & Commercial 14 Community Rugby 16 NSW Suburban Rugby Union 18 NSW Country Rugby Union 19 NSW Referees 20 NSW Junior Rugby Union 21 Sydney Women s Rugby Union 22 NSW Schools Rugby Union 23 Schools Associations 24 Super 14 Match Reports 26 Wallabies Results 31 National Team Results 34 NSW Premiership Rugby Results 36 NSW Suburban and Country Results 38 Financial Report 39 Sponsors NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

3 NSW Rugby Union and Affiliated Unions NSW RUGBY UNION Chairman Edwin Zemancheff President Peter Medway Vice-President John Coolican Chief Executive Officer Jim L Estrange Board of Directors Edwin Zemancheff (Chairman), Jim L Estrange (CEO), Will Jephcott, Sally Loane, Chris Birch, Geoff Garland (to 9 December 2009), John Spana (from 9 December 2009), Laurie Maher (to 28 October 2009), Bruce Worboys (from 28 October 2009), Ian Ross (to 28 October 2009), Paul Timmins (from 28 October 2009), Matt Dunning (to 28 October 2009), Al Baxter (from 28 October 2009) Honorary Life Members David Brockhoff OAM, Peter Crittle AO, Peter Falk OAM, John Freedman OAM, Phil Harry AM, Dick Hart, Harry Ivimey OAM, Terry MacBride, Ron Meagher, Jeff Sayle OAM, Bill Simpson Nsw Premier Clubs Premier Rugby Committee Chris Birch (Chairman), Steven Bartrop, Graham Boyle, Bob Ellis, John Harkness, Ian Hewitt, Garry Hudson/Alan Hyam, Mark McKenzie, David Mortimer, Ian North, Brett Papworth, Warren Poole/Mike Sheeran, Neville Shooter Judicial Committee Terry Willis (Chairman), John Nicholson (Deputy Chairman), Glenn Capel, Ian Kennedy, Brian Kinsey, Michael Mathers, Rupert Rosenblum, David Sefton, David Sio, Tim Wallace Counsel Assisting Bruce Hodgkinson, Gary Wilson Citing Officers Dick Byres, Ross Higgins Appeals Tribunal John Gleeson QC (Chairman), John Freedman OAM, Peter Garling SC, Courtenay Poulden, Phil Purcell Competition Manager Lisa Kane Kinny NSW SUBURBAN RUGBY UNION President Dan Moore Chairman Ian Ross Treasurer Paul Timmins Board Members Mark Green, Paul Hughes, Alan Jones, Michael Kennedy, Damian Loone, Peter Macklin, Rick Morris, John Slender Executive Director Mark Green Competition Manager Tim Richards NSW COUNTRY RUGBY UNION President Bruce Worboys Vice-President Laurie Maher Directors Col Jeffs, Phil Payne, Steve Rosa, Peter Veenstra, Garry Warfield Executive Officer Terry Woodward NSW REFEREES President John McCarthy Secretary Michael Blair Treasurer Phil Baird Referees Manager Ron Mancell NSW JUNIOR RUGBY UNION President John Spana Vice-Presidents Michael Dodd (Country), Paul Taylor (Sydney) Administrator Kim Rea NSW SCHOOLS RUGBY UNION President Colin Murray Vice-President Graeme Dedrick Secretary Greg Gerrard Treasurer Andrew Elliott Convenors Huon Barrett (AICES), Martin Haywood (CAS), Chris Hickey (CCC), Glen Clayton (CHS), Matt de Dassel (Country), Mark Ticehurst (GPS), Steve Tulevski (ISA), Grant Fuller (PSSA) Committee Chuck Ardron, Paul Geddes, Peter Gibson, Jed Hogan, Paul Kipp, Geoff Melville, Peter Ridgeway, Tim Wallace, Ray Woods SYDNEY WOMEN S RUGBY UNION President Kelly Rees-Zarb Secretary Jaie Thomson Administrator Mark Green All the President s Men - John Spana (NSWJRU President), Paul Taylor (SJRU President), John Coolican (NSWRU Vice President), Ron Graham (ARU President), Peter Medway (NSWRU President) and Geoff Garland (NSWRU Director Youth). (NSWJRU) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 1

4 Chairman s Report Edwin Zemancheff Whilst 2009 continued to present many challenges to NSW Rugby at all levels, I am pleased to report that it managed to successfully confront those challenges through the hard work, dedication and commitment of all its stakeholders. Like all business organisations sporting or otherwise the brutal economic climate continued to detrimentally affect the Union s revenues and finances throughout As a result, the Union incurred a $459K loss for the twelve month period to 31 October As a part of the Union s ongoing review of structures and operations, it was resolved to amend the Union s financial year end from 31 October to 31 December. For 2009, the transition year, the financial accounts report a fourteen month trading period being 1 November 2008 to 31 December 2009 and report a loss of $1.88m for that extended period. Whilst this extended financial year has significantly affected the reported operating results on a comparative basis, the underlying trading conditions of the business have not changed as dramatically as the reported numbers imply. The quantum of losses in the extended period are as normally experienced given the usual trading conditions of minimal revenue booked in this period, whilst fixed operating expenses continue to be incurred. However despite the challenging economic climate, the Union maintained its support of the community game by providing in excess of $1m in services, facilities and grant funding to our key affiliates to enable them to continue to administer and grow the game at grassroots level. The Board also undertook a review of its operations and administrative structures to better position and strength the Union and its finances moving forward particularly given the imminent arrival of the expanded Super Rugby season commencing in 2011 which will further test the Unions resources on and off the field. The key response of the Board to better position the Union and its stakeholders to meet the challenges that continue to confront us was to separate the administration and management of the community and professional aspects of our game by establishing NSW Waratahs Limited (WL). WL is a new entity operating independently from the NSWRU, charged with the sole responsibility of administering all aspects of the business of professional rugby in NSW. Under this new governance model, developed in consultation with the Australian Rugby Union, NSWRU has granted an exclusive licence to WL to manage the iconic Waratahs brand and to administer all aspects of professional rugby in NSW including the HSBC Waratahs participation in the Super Rugby competition. WL will pay NSWRU an annual licence fee sufficient to underwrite the Unions community and grassroots rugby programs and initiatives. The Board of the WL will be separate from the Board of the NSWRU and it will appoint its own independent directors who will possess a wide range of diversified professional business skills directly relevant to the administration of the business of professional sport. NSWRU will have the right to appoint two directors to the board of WL. The Board was keen to ensure that despite this separation the status quo of NSWRU was preserved in as many respects as possible. As a result NSWRU will continue to own and control the administration of grassroots and community rugby throughout the state; continue to have the right to appoint representatives at ARU member meetings and directors to the ARU Board; and continue to be governed by a Board comprising of directors elected by the Youth, Premiership Clubs, Country and Suburban Rugby constituents. Recognising the critical importance of community and grassroots rugby to the Union and its impact on the future growth and success of our game, the Board identified the following key benefits of separating the administration of both the community and professional aspects of our game as follows: it strengthened the existing governance structures for administering both aspects of our game, i.e. between the game of rugby and the business of rugby; it now enables each separate Board to maintain a much sharper focus on the issues that are critical to the success of their respective games free from the distractions of the other; it improves and enhances the financial independence of both forms of the game; i.e. the professional game is no longer a financial burden on the community game; it relieves tensions that previously existed and promotes better and more consistent alignment between the administration of both forms of the game; it significantly strengthens rugby s professionalism and ability to better administer all aspects of its game in NSW; and it delivers to the Board of NSWRU enhanced focus and skills to better formulate and execute new initiatives for the growth and development of grassroots and community rugby programs. The HSBC Waratahs were again the leading Australian Super 14 team in 2009, despite finishing just outside the semi-finals on points difference. While missing out on the finals by such a short margin was frustrating and disappointing for all involved, including our legion of loyal fans, the new off-field team headed by Australian Super 14 Coach of the Al Baxter joined the new Waratahs Board at the end of (Getty Images) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

5 Chairman s Report Year Chris Hickey must be congratulated for going so close in the toughest provincial Rugby competition in the world. An important element of the HSBC Waratahs Season in 2009 and one which will continue into the future is the commitment of the team and the union to take the game to regions outside the traditional areas of the game. NSWRU has worked tirelessly to ensure our community programs reach as far and to as many young players as possible. For the ongoing success of the sport we need to maintain a concerted push to showcase the sport at all levels in as many places around the state as we can. Last year this involved taking open training sessions to Pittwater, Kogarah and Penrith,a pre-season camp to Cessnock, a trial match in Newcastle and the first ever Super 14 match at ANZ Stadium in Homebush which attracted the largest Australian Super 14 crowd of the season. At season s end we farewelled a number of players including Matt Dunning, Lote Tuquri, Brett Sheehan and Sam Norton-Knight all of whom represented the Waratahs on more than 50 occasions. To each of these Waratahs we wish them well and all the best in their future in Rugby and beyond, in particular Matt who was stuck on 99 caps for the duration of 2009 with an Achilles tendon injury keeping him off the field. Matt also served on the NSWRU board last year making a valuable contribution, and his place has now been taken on the new WL Board by the man who passed him as the state s most-capped prop Alastair Baxter. At club level, The Tooheys New Shute Shield was again an extremely strong with Sydney University eventually claiming their fifth straight premiership after a very competitive Grand Final against Randwick. In addition to Tooheys New who continued their strong sponsorship of club rugby for yet another season a special mention must also be made to the efforts of ABC in covering the game. The youth level of the game continues to prosper with almost 20,000 registered juniors and around 40,000 school players. Suburban and Country Rugby continue grow successful competitions and the interest in grassroots rugby remains strong. Importantly, many of our partners have remained with us during a confronting financial period and have pledged their continued commitment to the union. HSBC are the principal sponsors of NSW Rugby and naming rights sponsor of the Waratahs. This is a partnership which commenced in 2002, with the current partnership running for another two season which will bring up a decade of naming rights on the state jersey. On behalf the Board and NSWRU, I thank HSBC whole heartedly for their commitment to not only the Waratahs but the whole game of Rugby in this state. Mazda enjoyed its first year as a sleeve sponsor of the HSBC Waratahs in A partner of the Union since 2001, the move onto the jersey was the next stage for Mazda and we look forward to their continued and close association with us up to and including I also wish to thank IBM for their ongoing support which includes their naming rights sponsorship of the state of the art IBM Centre. So highly regarded is this outstanding facility that is has become the home base for the Wallabies when they assemble in Sydney and it is the envy of all our rival sporting codes locally and nationally. To HSBC, Mazda, IBM and to all of our many sponsors thank you very much for your commitment in 2009 and the Union very much looks forward to our valuable partnerships continuing in 2010 and beyond. The NSW Rugby Awards gala evening was another outstanding success, and the event received strong reviews from everyone who attended. Congratulations to all nominees and winners, in particular to the Ken Catchpole Medallist, Andrew Smith from the Northern Suburbs club. As always, the game continues to rely heavily on one of its most prized assets, its tireless team of enthusiastic volunteers who continue to keep the game strong. At every level of the sport, thousands upon thousands of volunteers keep the game going and growing throughout the year. To all players and all volunteers of the game in NSW, we sincerely thank you for your energy and enthusiasm which ensures the game grows and remains strong. In the incredibly competitive Sydney and Australian sporting marketplace, the ongoing future success, indeed survival, of the Union is intrinsically tied to the Union s revenues and financial wellbeing. Having close regard to the prevailing economic climate that we are operating in the Board is concerned that for season 2010 our main revenue streams (i.e. memberships, match day attendances, corporate hospitality and sponsorships) will continue to experience extreme pressure. It is with this in mind that the Board urges all of our stakeholders and constituent members to support and assist your Union, particularly by continuing to support the HSBC Waratahs through membership renewals and attending games as this continued support will assist and make a Stars such as Wycliff Palu regularly returned to boost the Tooheys New Shute Shield. (seiserphotography.com) positive difference to us all. To the NSWRU President Peter Medway and Vice-President John Coolican, thank you for all of your hard work, in particular your efforts to help grow the Waratahs Legends which is an excellent and important initiative of Peter s and John s, endeavouring to foster amongst past and present Waratahs the rich heritage and proud ethos of this great Union. To our enthusiastic and energetic CEO Jim L Estrange and to all our loyal and hard working staff at NSW Rugby, your excellent and valuable day to day work in the office at the IBM Centre and also out in the field does not go unnoticed and is very much appreciated. Your dedication and professionalism is a major factor in the ongoing success of the Union and on behalf of the Board and all stakeholders, thank you. Lastly I would also like to thank the other members of the NSWRU Board for your support, assistance and valuable contribution throughout the year. In particular I would like to especially thank Ian Ross and Laurie Maher for their respective long, loyal and valuable service to not only their respective constituencies, but also to NSW Rugby as a whole. They are both good Rugby men and on behalf of the Board we wish them and their families well for the future. Edwin Zemancheff Chairman 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 3

6 Chief Executive Officer s Report Jim L Estrange The 2009 calendar year and the months leading into it were some of the most challenging times the global economy has experienced, and the sporting world was certainly not immune from this. While the only way to move forward is to confront the ongoing challenges which always face sporting organisations, it would be remiss not to look back on what we faced in NSW Rugby was forced to look hard both internally and externally, strategically and operationally at how best to combat the global economic forces and their local impact without affecting the on-field performance of the HSBC Waratahs or the continued development of the game at the grassroots. In 2008 I wrote in the Annual Report of the need to implement prudent financial strategies and solutions, and a business plan which translates to the professional and grassroots sporting landscapes operating as one. In a tough year which saw the Union record an operating loss, those shortfalls were curbed by hard but positive decisions which will have a lasting positive effect on the organisation. Staffing levels at NSW Rugby were slightly tightened, which is always disappointing, however in doing so we have achieved newfound efficiencies across a number of departments. Budgets were further refined across the organisation and grants to our affiliates were also affected. Importantly, the feedback from our affiliates was very accepting with the realisation that we all must be part of the solution. In the long run, when times improve, our grassroots affiliates will also benefit. One of the biggest changes was in the community Rugby department, with this important developmental area of the game moving under the auspices of the Australian Rugby Union. While the department is run out of NSWRU headquarters at the IBM Centre in Moore Park, community Rugby is now heading in the direction of a national program with NSW starting the initiative. Over time, all development Rugby across the country will be conducted by the ARU. This change was very significant, but implemented very well. Most of the NSWRU community Rugby staff was retained as part of the restructure, with former NSWRU General Manager of Development of Training, Mike Doyle, playing a large role in the seamless transition through his new role is NSW Community Operations Manager. With Community Rugby covering everything from grassroots development through to refereeing and coaching, NSW will continue to set the standard for the rest of the country which will over time move into line with the national framework. The collaborative approach to community Rugby has been reflected in a number of other departments with the start-up of Rugby Shared Services Pty Ltd (RSS), a company formed by the ARU and NSWRU with each organisation holding a 50% share. For the IT department, this has led to a sharing of costs for the NSWRU IT Manager and the operation of shared data networks and hosting services. Next year will see further placement of shared infrastructure and staff into RSS. RSS saw the existing NSWRU Finance staff relocate to Rugby HQ in St Leonards in July. With both organisations utilising the same finance staff out of the same geographical location, this has allowed the development of common systems and processes to progress. The Ticketing and Memberships department has started the move into RSS by transferring onto the ARU-developed customer relationship management (CRM) platform for the 2010 season, a shift which has also been undertaken by the Queensland Rugby Union and Brumbies Rugby. Finally, event operations are already operating within the RSS framework. The NSWRU Events Operations Manager was under secondment to the ARU from the conclusion of the Super 14 to help with the domestic Test Series and Tri Nations. Again, an ongoing assessment of this role of the first twelve months will enable both organisations to better determine to what extent event management can be best operated and staffed by RSS. On the field, the HSBC Waratahs again performed admirably but fell agonisingly short of the semi-finals. After losing hundreds of caps in Super 14 and Test experience between 2008 and 2009, and with a totally new coaching team, we performed above the expectations of many experts, however the team is extremely focused on going at least one step further in There were some big positives during the year, however. The team became the first side to clean sweep a three-match tour of South Africa since the inception of the Super 14, was the first NSW side to win at Eden Park since 1928, and equalled the Waratahs with a record of 10 consecutive home victories. Captain Phil Waugh became the most capped Super Rugby Waratah, while Al Baxter became just the fifth player to represent NSW on 100 occasions. Despite missing the finals, the team won nine matches which ties the record for the most number of wins by a Waratahs side during a Super Rugby season. The HSBC Waratahs played their first ever match at ANZ Stadium against the Crusaders and attracted the biggest Visy Tah Man makes a hovercraft entry for the first home game. (Getty Images) Fans queue for autographs at the 2009 Fan Day in Centennial Park. (NSWRU) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

7 Chief Executive Officer s Report Australian Super 14 crowd of the season. Recruitment for 2010 was extremely strong, as was the retention of talented and senior players making for an exciting year ahead as we enter the final year of Super 14. The team and the organisation as a whole continued to grow and foster its corporate and social responsibility in The squad made countless visits to not only rugby clubs and schools, but also lent their time and fundraising capabilities to a number of charities including Cerebral Palsy. The charity game and jersey auction from the Western Force fixture was a huge success, with tens of thousands of dollars raised to help the Spastic Centre. The squad also continued to broaden their focus beyond the football field with more than 85% of the Super 14 and professional Junior Waratah squad members either studying or working part-time. This is a statistic we are very proud of and is a credit to the Personal and Career Development program implemented in conjunction with RUPA. Significantly, our sponsors and partners continued to play a major role in the ongoing success of the Super 14 campaign. HSBC commenced the first of a three-year deal which runs through to 2011 and will see naming rights sponsor of the NSWRU and HSBC Waratahs on the jersey for a decade. Mazda upgraded to become the sleeve sponsor, while IBM s continuing support which includes naming rights to NSWRU headquarters the IBM Centre is greatly appreciated. As always, our supporters led by our members deserve praise for their support in Our fans continue to keep NSW at the head of attendance figures in Australian Rugby, with six of the top seven crowds occurring at the Sydney Football Stadium and ANZ Stadium. Significantly, the other match in the top seven saw thousands of NSW fans head to Canberra to watch the clash with the Brumbies. Premiership Rugby continued to improve in 2009 after its best season in years in The full home-and-away draw in the Tooheys New Shute Shield provided great interest with crowds and television ratings on ABC TV steadily on the rise. While Sydney University reigned supreme again, the challengers were plenty. The commitment of the HSBC Waratahs, Wallabies and other Super 14 teams to release players back to club Rugby ensures the high standard of the competition which is the envy of other premierships throughout the country. The fact that Dave Dennis was selected for the The HSBC Waratahs line up at the Season Launch. (Getty Images) Wallaby Spring Tour purely on his club Rugby form is testament to the high regard in which the competition is held. I must commend our affiliates and stakeholders at the grassroots of the game who remain the lifeblood of the game. Suburban, Country, Junior and Schoolboy Rugby continued to prosper, while Women s Rugby had their biggest ever boost with the Wallaroos victory in the Rugby World Cup Sevens. I would personally like to thank the Board, led by chairman Edwin Zemancheff, for their continued support of the staff at NSW Rugby. In particular I would like to thank departing directors Ian Ross and Laurie Maher who have served many years on the Board, and also to Matt Dunning who service covered just one year as a director but 99 hard-fought matches for the state. In their place, Paul Timmins (Suburban) and Bruce Worboys (Country) have been elected to the board, while Al Baxter will be the players representative on the new Waratahs Board. To all of our sponsors, thank you for your continued support of our great game; you are an essential part of the sport and your involvement at all levels is extremely important. I would also like to thank the management and staff at NSW Rugby, who continue to go above and beyond to ensure the game continues to prosper on and off the field from the professional level down to the grassroots of the game. And finally, to all the administrators and volunteers who give their time so willingly to ensure so much Rugby is played at all levels across NSW I unreservedly thank you. Your passion and commitment to the game ensures the sport will continue to prosper in this state. Jim L Estrange Chief Executive Officer Jim L Estrange at the Tooheys New Shute Shield Season Launch (seiserphotography.com) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 5

8 President s Report Peter Medway Season 2009 is definitely one to look back with a lot of pride for the NSW Rugby Union and the HSBC Waratahs, despite the howls we hear from some of the mainstream media and the perennial knockers. My overall observations of our game in NSW are extremely positive whilst recognising that we have challenges to deal with. Coming into a Super 14 season with vastly less experience than the previous year, the HSBC Waratahs performed well and were unlucky not to slip into the final four. Whilst we will all have our opinions on why the Tahs didn t make the finals, the effort of the team cannot be questioned. In 2009 NSW won nine matches the equal highest of any Waratahs team in Super Rugby and lost just four, yet missed out narrowly. Given teams in other major football codes in Australia qualify for their finals series with a win-loss ratio, the performance of the Waratahs should not go underestimated. This season s Waratahs, under Phil Waugh s inspirational leadership, became the first side since the NSW team of to win ten consecutive home victories, falling just short of setting a new record in our first ever home match at the Olympic Stadium. The match at Homebush attracted the largest Australian Super 14 crowd of the year, proving that taking the game to the most populous region of Sydney has been a success. The team recovered from back-to-back losses to defeat the Blues in Auckland, the first NSW victory at Eden Park since A number of HSBC Waratahs sponsors were lucky enough to be seated in a corporate tent just metres from the sideline for this match, an experience they will never forget. Then in South Africa when everything was on the line, the team became the first in the history of Super Rugby to complete a threefrom-three tour of the Republic. While other results did not go our way, it should not take away from this historic achievement. Personal achievements were also aplenty during the year. Scott Fava, Ben Mowen, Chris Thomson, Luke Doherty, Damien Fitzpatrick and Peter Playford all made their NSW Super Rugby Debuts in 2009, with Scott s first appearance making the former Kiama junior the first player to represent all four Australian Super Rugby teams. Fitzpatrick s debut is a credit to Joe Barakat and the HSBC Junior Waratahs setup. Following on from Rob Horne and Dan Palmer, Fitzpatrick became the third teenager in just two years to make the step from an Academy spot to taking the field in Super Rugby. With the move to an expanded competition in 2011, the Junior Waratahs program is expanding and we can continue to expect players coming through this pathway to make their mark in provincial Rugby. Wycliff Palu, Benn Robinson, Sam Norton- Knight, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Dean Mumm and Brett Sheehan all brought up 50 caps for NSW during the course of the season, with Tatafu surpassing David Lyons as the youngest player to reach the mark. Will Caldwell claimed his piece of history by overtaking Tom Bowman and John Welborn to become the state s most-capped lock, while Al Baxter became the state s most-capped prop when he passed Matt Dunning in his 100th appearance. By doing so, Al became just the fifth player to reach the century of NSW state appearances, but we re all still waiting for him to score his first try! Al s contribution to the game has been fantastic and his presence as a newly-elected NSWRU Director will continue that involvement. Club Rugby went from strength to strength in (seiserphotography.com) Al Baxter NSW Rugby s fifth centurion. (Getty Images) Wycliff Palu was once again voted by his peers as the winner of the Matthew Burke Cup for the players Player of the Year. It is the first time a player has claimed the award twice, let alone in back-to-back years. He finished just ahead of Phil Waugh who won his third Best Forward award, while Timana Tahu s blistering form at the tail end of the season saw him named the Best Back. Away from the field the team continued its amazing work for the grassroots of the game and charity. Players and coaches conducted hundreds of player appearances at everything from regional training days to school gala days to senior club presentations. The commitment to charity was highlighted by the match against the Western Force where the players jerseys were auctioned to help raise money for Cerebral Palsy. The squad also made regular appearances at the Starlight Room in Randwick and the players opened their facilities to homeless men from Mission Australia to work out. There are countless other stories that don t get publicity or acknowledgement for which the players should be commended. In 2009 we again saw huge representations in the Wallabies, Australian Under 20s and Australian Sevens from NSW Rugby. Twelve players represented the Wallabies from the Waratahs, a further six from the Waratahs and Junior Waratahs played at the Junior World Championship while another five from those programs played on the IRB Sevens circuit. Such representation is a credit not only to the players, but also to the coaching staff headed by Chris Hickey, who in his first year was named the Australian Super 14 Coach of the Year. Also heavily represented on the Wallaby Spring Tour were players from the Tooheys New Shute Shield which was again a fantastic competition in In all, 29 of the NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

9 President s Report Celebrations after NSW s first win in Auckland since (Getty Images) players selected in the train-on squad played in the Shute Shield, with 22 of the final 35 players named on the Tour aligned to Sydney premiership clubs. The competition s full home-and-away set-up continues to prosper, with the highlights being the hard-fought finals and the local derby rounds. The innovation of clubs with various promotions and the flexibility to move matches to Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays will continue to keep the competition relevant and exciting to a growing fan base. ABC must be commended for their good ongoing coverage, while the state and national team management must also be thanked for their continued release of senior players back to club rugby when not required for representative duties. The grassroots of the game, in both the city and the country, remains extremely strong with our Juniors and Schools the future of the game in great shape. I was thrilled to be present at numerous events throughout the year, including the state junior championships, and for those lucky enough to have been in attendance, they will agree that festivals such as these show just how strong the future of the game is. At the participation level, throughout juniors, country, subbies and premier, the game continues to prosper and hopefully we will see further growth in I am grateful to all of our players, coaches, staff, supporters and volunteers who understand and live the notion of team. These people recognise the need for hard work and personal sacrifice and have the determination to succeed, the willingness to contribute collaboratively and the patience to see a job through. We also have strong support from former Waratah players, our alumni. These men are re-engaging with today s Tahs and across the rugby community sharing stories from the past and giving back to the future of the game. The culture and values which have kept the game strong in NSW for over a century remain strong today. I thank you all for your contributions. It is with sadness that I note the passing of Paul Copeland, a Waratah from the late seventies who lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. Also Matt Laffan passed away in March. Matt was the son of former NSW Rugby coach Dick Laffan and had an active involvement with NSW Rugby despite living with diastrophic dysplasia all his life. I would like to extend my best wishes to NSWRU Vice-President John Coolican as he takes over the presidency in John has made huge contributions to rugby over many years as a player, coach, selector and administrator, from the juniors through Premier Club and on to the Waratahs and Wallabies. John and I thank the Board of NSW Rugby led by Chairman Edwin Zemancheff for their guidance, support and innovation in 2009 and wish them the best of luck in 2010, particularly with the formation of the new NSW Waratahs Ltd entity. This body will focus on the professional arm of the sport which will allow the continuing NSWRU Board to focus on the community game and its development and security. We make special mention of Jim L Estrange and the magnificent staff at NSW Rugby whose dedication and passion for the game has seen them come through a trying business year with flying colours. They regularly go above and beyond the call of duty for the good of the game, most of it done behind the scenes and without fanfare, but for those like me who see their hard work it does not go unnoticed. Thank you. To the ARU, to all NSWRU sponsors, honorary life members, members and affiliates, and to all players, supporters, volunteers and media, I thank you for your continued contribution to Rugby in NSW. The season ahead holds great challenges both on and off the field, but we have a solid foundation and dedicated teams committed to success from the grassroots through to the Waratahs. I hope you will be part of it. Peter Medway President HSBC Waratahs continued to help children from the Starlight Foundation. (NSWRU) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 7

10 HSBC Waratahs The 2009 season was certainly one of change for the Waratahs. It provided its challenges both on and off the field, however the ultimate measure of any Super 14 team s season is how they performed in the competition. Fifth place by the barest of margins was the final result in a year defined by moments where we both took and missed out on opportunities. Lowe expectations in the public arena conflicted with the high ambitions of the Waratahs camp leading into the year. Firstly there were the departures of experienced campaigners David Lyons, Dan Vickerman, Rocky Elsom, Ben Jacobs and Sam Harris, along with an untimely Achilles injury to Matt Dunning (which ruled him out of the entire season). That was coupled with an entirely new coaching staff and even more movement in the support staff of both the Waratahs and Junior Waratahs. However it was clear early on that the potential of this team to perform above expectations was high. Before Christmas 2008 the non-wallaby training group put in seven hard weeks of training hallmarked by more days of 30C-plus temperatures than not. When the Spring Tourists returned in January, three more hard weeks led into an opening trial victory over the Reds in Toowoomba with some stars of the future showing their potential. A week-long camp in Cessnock was followed by a ten-try victory over the Fiji Warriors in Newcastle. This match not only allowed the team to again take a fixture to a regional area, but further strengthened our relationship with the Fiji Rugby Union. The final trial victory against the Brumbies in Sydney launched the team into the Super 14. The opening match in Wellington saw the Tahs score a bonus point victory over Wellington, with Scott Fava, Ben Mowen and Chris Thomson each making their first Super 14 appearances for NSW. Three home victories followed against the Chiefs, Highlanders and Queensland, extending the Waratahs home-game winning streak to ten matches, equalling the record set by the NSW team of That mark could not be extended two weeks later when the Tahs went down to the Crusaders in the first ever Super 14 match at ANZ Stadium, a week after losing to the Brumbies. Damien Fitzpatrick was elevated from the Junior Waratahs to make his debut against the Crusaders after Adam Freier s season came to a cruel end with a biceps injury in Canberra. Luke Doherty also made his NSW debut against the Brumbies. Showing the character evident in the team throughout the pre-season, the team headed to Auckland with confidence despite no NSW team having won in the city since Daniel Halangahu guided the team to victory after taking his first opportunity in the No.10 jersey since 2007, and in doing so the team not only ended an 81-year hoodoo, but it became the first NSW team to defeat four New Zealand teams in Super Rugby season. The Waratahs returned to Sydney with a win against the Stormers, however back-to-back losses to the eventual champion Bulls and the Western Force set up a tough South African tour. In the match against the Force Will Caldwell made his 64th NSW appearance, surpassing John Welborn and Tom Bowman as the state s most-capped second-rower of all time. What followed in South Africa was another history-making time for the Waratahs, which unfortunately finished in disappointment. Victories against the Cheetahs, Sharks and Lions meant the Waratahs had become the first Australian or New Zealand team to win three matches on a tour to the Republic. The tour saw Peter Playford play his first Super 14 match for the Waratahs, nine years after first representing the state, Al Baxter became the fifth NSW player to reach 100 caps and captain Phil Waugh surpassed Chris Whitaker as the Waratahs most-capped player in Super Rugby. The final round bonus point victory over the Lions left the team with a nervous wait Phil Waugh lays down the law ahead of the Highlanders clash. (Getty Images) Chris Hickey and Michael Foley survey the scene in Newcastle. (Getty Images) the following day, however victories to the Crusaders and the Hurricanes saw the Waratahs miss out on the finals on points difference. While it was a season in which the side took the opportunities to create history at NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

11 HSBC Waratahs Wycliff Palu won an unprecedented second Matthew Burke Cup in (Getty Images) various stages, not making the most of some crucial opportunities throughout the season ultimately cost the team a finals berth. It was extremely unfortunate to see the dedication of the entire squad go unrewarded at the business end of the season. While the team was again the best performed Australian side for the fifth time in six years, and performed well above the expectations of many socalled experts, in the end the result was just short of where it needed to be. In addition to the players already mentioned, Wycliff Palu, Benn Robinson, Sam Norton- Knight, Dean Mumm and Brett Sheehan all reached 50 NSW caps during the year. Tatafu Polota-Nau also reached 50 NSW caps, and in doing so surpassed David Lyons as the youngest player ever to do so. Palu was voted as the players player to win the Matthew Burke Cup for the second straight year, Phil Waugh won Best Forward while Timana Tahu was voted Best Back. Commendation must go to Chris Hickey who earned the Australian Super 14 Coach of the Year Award in his first season, and also to the other members of the coaching staff: Scott Wisemantel, Michael Foley, Matt Burke, Anthony Wakeling, Joe Barakat and Scott Bowen. Joe s continued work with the Junior Waratahs was this year supported by Scott, and the success of this program is evidenced by the fact three players from this squad have played Super 14 football in the last two years. Dr Sharron Flahive and Peter McDonald continued their long-standing roles with the team, while new physiotherapist Keiran Cleary and strength and conditioning coach Jason Schulman continued the Waratahs impressive physical program. Off-season restructuring saw Jasmin Murphy move into the administrative staff, Nick Verhelst excel in his new role as assistant manager, while it was also Brett Moore s first season as media manager. A number of experienced Waratahs departed following the season, including Matt Dunning, Lote Tuqiri, Sam Norton-Knight and Brett Sheehan, along with Timana Tahu, Ben Batger, Matt Carraro, Luke Doherty, Beau Robinson and Peter Playford. However the side has recruited well for 2010 with the likes of Sosene Anesi, Berrick Barnes, Josh Holmes, Cam Jowitt, Drew Mitchell, Hendrik Roodt and Rory Sidey coming into the team. Importantly, the big change in the team staff from will not be repeated with the only change seeing Tom Tombleson move into the S&C team. Again in 2010 we can expect high levels of expectation, scrutiny and ambition amongst Waratahs supporters, all of which will be reflected and amplified by those inside the Waratahs camp. As we enter the final season of Super 14 before the competition s expansion, it is shaping as an important and exciting year ahead for the Waratahs and Junior Waratahs programs. Chris Webb Team Manager HSBC Waratahs Daniel Halangahu in the commemorative Cerebral Palsy charity strip. (Getty Images) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 9

12 HSBC Waratahs Milestones 2009 HSBC WARATAHS MILESTONES Round 1 v Hurricanes Scott Fava NSW State Debut, Waratahs Super Rugby Debut Scott Fava First player to represent each Australian Super Rugby team Ben Mowen NSW State Debut, Waratahs Super Rugby Debut Chris Thomson NSW State Debut, Waratahs Super Rugby Debut Lachie Turner 50 Super Rugby Points Kurtley Beale Sixth-highest Waratahs Super Rugby Pointscorer (passing Scott Staniforth 115) Round 3 v Highlanders Phil Waugh 100 Super Rugby Caps Wycliff Palu 50 NSW State Caps Most consecutive Waratahs home victories in Super Rugby (9) Round 4 v Queensland Reds Benn Robinson 50 NSW State Caps Phil Waugh Second most-capped Waratah in Super Rugby (passing David Lyons 100) Phil Waugh Most consecutive games as NSW captain (passing Johnnie Wallace 19) Waratahs 100th win against Queensland ( ) Equal most consecutive NSW home victories (10, equalling ) Round 5 v Brumbies Luke Doherty NSW State Debut, Waratahs Super Rugby Debut Sam Norton-Knight 50 NSW State Caps Round 6 v Crusaders Damien Fitzpatrick NSW State Debut, Waratahs Super Rugby Debut Phil Waugh Third most-capped Waratah (passing David Lyons 106) Lote Tuqiri Seventh most-capped Super Rugby Waratah (passing Adam Freier 81) Kurtley Beale Seventh-highest Waratahs Super Rugby Pointscorer (passing Lote Tuqiri 148) Round 7 v Blues Waratahs first Super Rugby victory at Eden Park ( ) Waratahs first win at Eden Park since 1928 Waratahs 17,000 total points ( ) Round 9 v Bulls Tatafu Polota-Nau 50 NSW State Caps Tatafu Polota-Nau Youngest player to reach 50 NSW State Caps (23yrs 259 days, passing David Lyons 23yrs 263 days) Round 10 v Western Force Tatafu Polota-Nau 50 Waratahs Super Rugby Caps Daniel Halangahu 50 Super Rugby Points Will Caldwell Most-capped NSW lock (passing John Welborn and Tom Bowman 63) Lote Tuqiri Sixth most-capped Super Rugby Waratah (passing Nathan Grey 85) Round 12 v Cheetahs Peter Playford Waratahs Super Rugby Debut, Waratahs 150th Super Rugby Player Al Baxter 100 NSW State Caps Al Baxter Most-capped NSW prop (passing Matt Dunning 99) Al Baxter Fifth most-capped Waratah (passing Matt Dunning 99) Al Baxter Fourth most-capped Super Rugby Waratah (passing Matt Dunning 90) Dean Mumm 50 NSW State Caps Will Caldwell 50 Waratahs Super Rugby Caps Benn Robinson 50 Waratahs Super Rugby Caps Phil Waugh Most-capped Super Rugby Waratah (passing Chris Whitaker 107) Lachie Turner Eighth-highest Waratah Super Rugby tries (passing Alistair Murdoch 13) Waratahs 1000 penalty goals ( ) Round 13 v Sharks Brett Sheehan 50 NSW State Caps Daniel Halangahu 100 Waratahs points Daniel Halangahu 50 Season Points Round 14 v Lions Waratahs equal-highest wins in a Super Rugby season (9, equal with 2005, 2006 and 2008) Round 8 v Stormers Wycliff Palu 50 Waratahs Super Rugby Caps Lote Tuqiri Tenth most-capped Waratah (passing Tim Gavin 83) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

13 2009 Awards Andrew Smith, 2009 Ken Catchpole Medallist. (Getty Images) Locky McCaffrey, inaugural Tooheys New Shute Shield Rookie of the Year, with HSBC Waratahs captain Phil Waugh. (Getty Images) AUSTRALIAN RUGBY UNION AWARDS Wallaby of the Year People s Choice Award Benn Robinson (Eastwood/HSBC Waratahs) Roger Vanderfield Award for Referee of the Year Stuart Dickinson INVESTEC SUPER 14 AWARDS Player of the Series 1. George Smith (Manly/Brumbies) Benn Robinson (Eastwood/HSBC Waratahs) James O Connor (Western Force) Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds) 14 Coach of the Series Chris Hickey (HSBC Waratahs) Referee of the Series Stuart Dickinson (NSW) HSBC WARATAH AWARDS Matthew Burke Cup For the Players Player of the Super Wycliff Palu (Manly) Phil Waugh* (Sydney University) Benn Robinson (Eastwood) Will Caldwell (Sydney University) Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta) Timana Tahu^ (West Harbour) Sam Norton-Knight (Northern Suburbs) Luke Burgess (Sydney University) Lachie Turner (Eastwood) Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University) 73 * Best Forward ^ Best Back Waratah Medal On and off-field excellence Ben Mowen (Randwick) Chris Whitaker Aspiring Waratah Award HSBC Junior Waratah of the Year Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood) NSW RUGBY AWARDS Ken Catchpole Medal Tooheys New Shute Shield Player of the Year 1. Andrew Smith (Northern Suburbs) Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University) Dave Harvey (Gordon) Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University) Hugh Perrett (Eastwood) Adam D Arcy (Manly) Ben Batger (Eastwood) Beau Robinson (Warringah) Sam Harris (Warringah) Sitiveni Mafi (Parramatta) Brett Sheehan (Warringah) 15 TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD Rookie of The Year Lachlan McCaffrey (Eastwood) David Brockhoff Medal Tooheys New Shute Shield Coach of the Year Phil Blake (Manly) Dick Byres Medal Tooheys New Shute Shield Referee of the Year Steve Walsh Will Tanner Award NSW Country Player of the Year Mike Te Moana (Armidale/New England) Kentwell Medal NSW Suburban Player of the Year Aaron Loxley (Campbelltown Harlequins) Rova Media Women s Player of The Year Rebecca Trethowan (NSW Country) Spirit of Rugby Award NSW Rugby Volunteer of the Year Jenny Middlemiss (Barraba/Central Northern Rugby Union) Schweppes Sydney Junior Player of The Year Baden Donegal (Warringah) Schweppes Nsw Country Junior Player Of The Year Alex Gibbon (Wollongbar-Alstonville) Schweppes NSW Schools Player of The Year Jacob Woodhouse (The Scots College) David Brockhoff Medallist Phil Blake (r) with David Brockhoff. (Getty Images) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 11

14 NSW Premiership Rugby On Sunday 26 September the NSW Premiership season culminated with a sensational day of Rugby, with Grand Finals for all four grades at the Sydney Football Stadium for the first time since The day began with a heart stopping Fourth Grade match where Randwick defeated West Harbour to keep the JR Henderson Cup in Coogee for the second straight year. As the day progressed three other clubs shared in premiership winning glory. Gordon defended the JR Henderson Shield by defeating Sydney University 6-3 in Third Grade, and Colin Caird Shield was won by Eastern Suburbs who outlasted in the Second Grade decider. Finally Sydney University retained the top honours for the fifth straight year, winning the Tooheys New Shute Shield with a victory over Randwick. The Colts Grand Finals were contested the previous day at Concord Oval. The standard of play was outstanding, leaving spectators eager to see these players develop through the Grade Competition. Southern Districts in their first Colts Grand Final were overpowered by the undefeated Sydney University in the W.McMahon Memorial Shield for First Grade Colts. The Students also took home the Shell Trophy for Second Grade Colts, narrowly defeating Eastern Suburbs 17-16, however the Third Grade Colts honours were taken by Gordon who defeated Uni in a nail-biter. Sydney University also retained the ES Marks Shield for First Grade Minor Premiers, the Gregor George Trophy for Club Champions, the Eric Spilsted Memorial Shield for Colts Club Champions and the Sir Roden Cutler Shield by completing an undefeated season at home in First Grade. The Ken Catchpole Medal for Tooheys New Shute Shield Player of the Year was won by Andrew Smith from Northern Suburbs. Gordon s David Harvey took out the Roscoe Fay Trophy for highest pointscorer during the Tooheys New Shute Shield regular season amassing 308 points. The inaugural winner of the Tooheys New Shute Shield Rookie of the Year Award was Eastwood backrower Locky McCaffrey. Manly s Phil Blake collected the David Brockhoff Medal as Coach of the Year after guiding the Marlins into top spot on the ladder for most of the season. Steve Walsh earned the Dick Byres Medal as Mazda Referee of the Year after re-establishing his refereeing career in Australia. The local derby rounds again proved hugely popular with both the players and spectators. The Randwick-Eastern Suburbs match on the Sunday of the Anzac Day weekend was a season highlight, and was played before a bumper crowd at Coogee as well as via the ABC broadcast. Thanks must go to the ABC, its commentary and production teams for their work in both covering and promoting the competition, especially with the two Sunday broadcasts this year. Pleasingly, the broadcast ratings increased overall by 10% in Seven of the 27 televised matches during the 2009 season had over 100,000 viewers as opposed to two occasions in And the Grand Final had 29,000 more viewers that the same fixture in No doubt the increased interest in the competition was due to the high calibre of player participating in the competition and the return of so many Super 14 players to the club game. The club Presidents and General Managers, and also to the clubs representative on the NSWRU Board Chris Birch, all contribute a significant amount of time and effort to ensure that Sydney Club Rugby continues to be a vital and integral part of the Australian rugby landscape. This season saw the introduction of the premiership player point system, where each player was allocated a points value based on his experience. First Grade, Second Grade as well as First and Second Grade Colts were subject to a points cap. This system was designed by the Clubs to, over time, provide a balanced and strong competition. Unfortunately there were some gaps in the Colts and Grade draw this season with some Clubs unable to fulfil their full playing obligations. Several options and solutions are being discussed by the Union and the Clubs to ensure that the competition remains Sydney University celebrate five straight premierships. (seiserphotography.com) Drew Mitchell one of dozens of Super 14 and Test stars who regularly returned to play in the Tooheys New Shute Shield. (seiserphotography.com) strong into the future. I would particularly like to thank the volunteers, who selflessly give their time year in, year out. Without the assistance of these people both on match day and behind the scenes the competition would not be possible. In addition to club personnel the NSW Rugby Union Judiciary led by Chairman Terry Willis and Appeals Chairman John Gleeson work tirelessly to ensure that the competition is conducted fairly. I would like to thank them for all their efforts this season. I would also like to thank Kim Garling, who retired from the Judicial Committee after many years of service as Deputy Chairman. Thanks must also go to the Referees, without them and their commitment to continually improve the game the festival of rugby we enjoy every weekend would not be possible. Thank you to our main sponsors Tooheys New, Schweppes and Bundaberg Rum for their ongoing and valued support. Lisa Jane Kinny Competition Manager NSW Premiership Rugby NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

15 Media & Communications As is always the case, media played an extremely important role in the profile and day-to-day operations of NSW Rugby. The Media Department works with every other division within the organisation from the HSBC Waratahs to the Tooheys New Shute Shield and community Rugby to help promote the game. A new-look Super 14 team on and off the field extended to the coaching staff and media, with a steep learning curve an obvious obstacle to overcome in the early stages of the year. However it was not an obstacle which held the team, with an energised focus to ensure the HSBC Waratahs public profile was maximised through television, radio and newsprint. On the flipside, the reaction from the media was one of great interest. While there were strong intimations early in the year that the press were collectively apprehensive about the team s chances, results eventually spoke for themselves and an undefeated pre-season followed by four wins in a row to start the tournament turned some of that thought around. Importantly, the team continued to front the media whenever the opportunity arose. Players and coaches were offered for interviews on every training day during the season, continuing to attract interest both in New Zealand and South Africa. The Media Department was active in attempting to more robustly promote interview opportunities to some outlets where there was more potential. The radio sports programs on 2UE (Sports Today), 2KY/Sky Sports Radio (Big Sports Breakfast), 2SM (Talkin Sport) and 2GB (Sunday Sportzone) delivered a much higher presence in 2009, while emerging outlets including Bigpond Sports Weekend were also supported. Players and personalities continue to sell the game, and some coach and players regular media commitments indirectly promote the brand. These included Lote Tuqiri s Sunday Telegraph column, Matt Burke s appearances on Big Sports Breakfast and Bigpond Sports Weekend, as well as Adam Freier s growing presence as a columnist with mx and panellist on Fox Sports Rugby and news programming. The Media Department regularly deals with on-field issues, however it is the off-field issues which are always testing. In 2009 there was continued speculation around Timana Tahu s future during the season, Lote Tuqiri s departure, Tahu s eventual move back to rugby league, news on key signings and administrative changes at a state and national level. During these times, the Media Department openly worked with the team department, NSWRU Board and the ARU to achieve the required outcomes internally, and externally. As always, the undertaking to always aim up and confront public expectation and pressure was one which was repeatedly met. For this, the players, coaching staff, senior management and Board must be commended. While on tour to South Africa, the provision of images and vision again proved to be vital in the team s coverage back in Australia. High quality photography of training and behind the scenes shots were sent back to Australia and picked up free of charge by the major newspapers. Similarly, vision of training, daily interviews and post-match press conferences were fed back to Fox Sports in Australia for wider distribution to the networks. While some provinces employ film crews to take to South Africa, and others hire cameramen while in the Republic, NSW continues to deliver the same service cheaply and efficiently using the NSWRU Media staff the team is familiar with. Restructuring of the Media Department saw the cessation of the Tah Talk podcast, while Tah TV has wound back (this initiative may be resurrected in a limited capacity in 2010). However despite the restructure, the Department still delivered the same service to the media it has prided itself on. ACP continued to produce the Waratahs match programs and season guide, while Jim Davis again produced Rugby News, the weekly match program for the Tooheys New Shute Shield. Paul Seiser was again commissioned to provide timely images of club Rugby to the press, and the club worked with ABC TV where required to ensure any requirements were met. The Department continues to work closely with Fox Sports to ensure all possible opportunities for publicity are facilitated. Brett Moore Media Manager NSW Rugby Union Phil Waugh fronts the media at the 2010 HSBC Waratahs Super 14 Season Launch. (Getty Images) A media scrum surrounds Luke Doherty at the announcement of his signing. (Getty Images) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 13

16 Marketing & Commercial In 2009 the Marketing and Commercial team focused on developing new initiatives and opening up new communication channels to increase brand and product awareness. There was also a focus on developing partnerships with new and current sponsors, introducing new categories into the market and increasing the service delivered. It was a successful year which achieved key objectives and met targets. A threeyear partnership with HSBC, principal and naming rights sponsor of the HSBC Waratahs and HSBC Junior Waratahs, will see the partnership continue until the end of the 2011 season. Mazda renewed and increased its association to be represented on the jersey sleeve for three years, while IBM and the Legends Club also renewed their sponsorships. Five new sponsors of New South Wales Rugby Union and the HSBC Waratahs also came on board: Canterbury, Schweppes, Moët Hennessey, Mirvac Hotels & Resorts and Red Bull. The first HSBC Waratahs game was held at ANZ Stadium, attracting the largest crowd for the season and growing interest from the western suburbs, while over $50,000 was raised for Cerebral Palsy, the principal charity in The key strategy for 2009 season was to increase the value of entertainment offered to our spectators and ensure a complete experience was created. There was an increased focus on activity in the area precinct as well as on-field entertainment which introduced a premium prize for the key promotion. A new corporate hospitality product was offered, The Chairman s Club, creating a more premium experience for the corporate market. Tah Bar featured at specific games to the general public and repositioned to a younger demographic, a place to go pre- and post-match, with a focus on alleviating ingress and egress of the venue. After being reintroduced in 2008, curtain raisers continued this year and celebrated all Rugby stakeholders, highlighted by the Gatorade Junior March Past with more than 1500 young players from across the state. The Tooheys Shute Shield marketing campaign ( Good honest Rugby in your own backyard ) continued in 2009 and surrounded one of the competition s most successful seasons in recent times. ABC TV s Game of the Day live broadcasts saw an increase in viewers (peaking at more than 130,000), which was reflective of the increased attendances across the competition. The commitment of the HSBC Waratahs and Wallabies to allow squad members to play as much club Rugby as possible has been a key determining factor in the increase in quality and profile of the Tooheys New Shute Shield over the past two years. NSWRU and the HSBC Waratahs are leaders in many fields and development of new sponsorship properties are part of this. In 2009 NSWRU launched three new properties, which have been extremely successful. The focus of working with our sponsors also increased, developing relationships and increasing the quality of service we provide to our partners, understanding their business and working Gordon Bray hosts the Chairman s Club. (ImageMatrix) 2010 Tooheys New Shute Shield Season Launch. (Getty Images) towards achieving their key objectives. In 2009, the licensee program was consolidated and managed through NSWRU. This was a successful transition and assists partners increase their sales through various initiatives. The HSBC Waratahs jersey remained the highest-selling item. All stock for the jersey replica range sold out at the conclusion of the season. The vintage range of streetwear has continued to sell well outside of the Super 14 season and will continue to be featured in future fashion collections. A comprehensive 12-month marketing campaign was maintained in 2009 driven by increased promotional activity. This has ensured increased exposure for the brand across a range of initiatives NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

17 Marketing & Commercial An example of the 2009 advertising campaign. NSWRU dedicated itself to increasing their alignment with corporate partners on their own campaigns, including HSBC s successful Jersey23 promotion, and offered the same through the alignment with principal charity Cerebral Palsy. We further utilised market research to hit our target markets which in turn resulted in more exposure through our media partners and an increase in public relations activity. A close alignment with the Media & Communications department enabled a cohesive approach to this strategy which broadened our focus to leisure and non-traditional sporting activities. The overall strategy resulted in over $850,000 incremental value and exposure for the HSBC Waratahs brand. A twelve-month events calendar was established to deliver special and external events, increasing exposure and awareness of the HSBC Waratahs in key geographical regions. Some of these events included (but were not limited to) the HSBC Waratahs Super 14 Season Launch, Tooheys New Shute Shield Season Launch, Lady Waratah events, Ticketek store appearances, HSBC Waratahs Fan Days, HSBC Open Training Sessions, Waratah Legends Breakfast, CBD appearances, Shopping Centre appearances and HSBC Free Kick Clinics. Membership acquisition was again strong in 2009 with a growth of 7%. However with a churn rate of 13%, the learning from the season was that supporters determined their attendance on a game-by gamebasis. NSWRU also introduced two new memberships, Tah Patrol North Pole and Tah Patrol Skins Zone. These two categories were created as a lower price point product offering. This membership and ticketing offer will continue through to the 2010 season. Ticketing sales trends highlighted some key opportunities throughout the season, which will be leveraged for the 2010 season. Visy Tah Man, the Waratahs Mascot, has continued to grow in popularity. Not only does Visy Tah Man feature at the HSBC Waratah games, but his role as a key ambassador for the Waratahs has increased, with over 100 schools being visited this year. In summary, the 2009 season had successful elements and key learnings for the off-field team in marketing and commercial. Planning for 2010 is centred around taking these outcomes to develop new and exciting initiatives which will grow the brand and the product offering at all of our games. Kym Aust-Howlett General Manager Marketing & Commercial Matt Carraro and Daniel Halanghau at McHappy Day. (NSWRU Media) Co-branded marketing collateral for principal charity, Cerebral Palsy NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 15

18 Community Rugby In 2009 one of the most significant changes to the development of Rugby was undertaken by NSW Rugby and the Australian Rugby Union in a strategic alliance of our resources. The NSW Development team was merged with the Central Services team of the ARU coming under auspices and management of the ARU Community Rugby division. This was one of the first steps that came out of an intensive Fundamental Business Review of the ARU where a Centralised Service Model was adopted across many divisions of the business. The model would allow for a national front in the Development of Rugby across Australia. This allows more personnel in the field, supported by a Central Services team addressing the four key pillars of strategic plan: 1. Rugby Growth Grow and retain players, coaches, referees and volunteers as lifelong participants and partners of rugby 2. Rugby Education Provide education programs and resources which improves club and people capabilities to support growth and excellence in rugby 3. Rugby Services Improve the quality of experience for all customers in the rugby community 4. Rugby Delivery Build the national strategic and operational excellence of Rugby Inc. This allowed personnel in the field the ability to concentrate on servicing the customers in their areas (hubs), while the Central Services team supplied them with programs and resources to carry out their development activities. It also allowed for data gathering and an improved understanding of our business in the Hubs. As this process evolved from February 2009, it was time for getting on with the job in relation to delivering Rugby Development across NSW. Delivery of Coach and Official Education for 2009 throughout the State included eighteen ELV education seminars with over 1700 participants; 27 Foundation courses with 632 participants; four Level Two courses with 100 participants; 50 Coaching Kids Rugby courses with over 1000 participants; 70 Smart Rugby courses with 1275 participants; one Advanced Coach Seminar with 70 participants; 19 Referee Education nights with 1270 participants; 11 Assistant Referee courses with 288 participants; two Referee Coach courses with 34 participants; eight Australian Refereeing Program seminars with over 200 participants; eight Refereeing Kids Rugby courses with 370 participants; and two Level Two Referee courses with 20 participants This created a very busy schedule, particularly with the majority of courses conducted at the beginning of the Rugby season. The courses resulted in having 15,056 registered coaches and over 1400 registered members of referee associations across the State. The majority of these coaches and referees doing their work as volunteers keep our game moving forward and growing. NSW Rugby would like to thank you all for your incredible efforts and look forward to all been involved in After meeting with our stakeholders and the setting of our KPI goals for 2009, we set about getting into our junior clubs and schools to promote rugby with a list of different activities designed across the three key areas of sampling, irregular and regular Rugby. The figures for School participants NSW Community Operations Manager, Mike Doyle (seiserphotography.com) Junior players welcome the HSBC Waratahs onto the field (seiserphotography.com) Phil Waugh at an HSBC Free Kick Clinic. (Getty Images) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

19 Community Rugby involved in these areas are as follows: Sampling in Schools (school visits, one off rugby skills sessions) Over 20,000 participants in aggregate Irregular Rugby in Schools (gala days, Cluster Cup) 20,990 participants Regular Rugby in Schools (regular competition) 17,919 participants These figures showed a slight rise from 2008 and overall participation figures rose in NSW for the 2009 season which was a very positive sign for Community Rugby. Ultimately growth in participation and feedback from the Rugby community are the key indicators of success in development, however throughout the year the following is a list of some of the areas that were achieved across NSW: Enhanced direction, support and management (more pro-active) Plan development; integration (bottom up) and alignment to National strategy (i.e. Hub Plan to state strategy to national strategy) Less duplication, better specialisation by central services and field staff Coordination and consistent delivery of tailored programs and services More staff in the field (e.g. four more in Sydney metro) Greater face to face contact with participants; enhanced communication (e.g. monthly newsletters and reports, more meetings with stakeholders) Central Services support to field staff with resources and direction Better staff career opportunities Professional development of staff training opportunities (e.g. ASC Mentor and presenter training courses) Moving from 2009 into 2010, we have learnt many lessons from the integration of the two companies. We have reviewed what was done in 2009 and have adapted our strategies to improve the overall development of Rugby in NSW. Some of the initiatives we will be implementing will include a refinement of the Community Rugby organisational structure; the adjustment to Hub boundaries; refinement of policies, procedures, planning processes; roll out new programs and evaluate; establish programs with greatest impact; new strategic opportunities what is the priority and what can we deliver with our current resources?; strategic game development in line with urban development ; further development of staff capabilities knowledge, delivery, planning, strategic perspective, communication, continuous improvement mentality; and professional development opportunities, rewarding outstanding service. All in all it has been a very exciting and challenging year across many areas in the Community game. We believe with further planning and strategic focus, we can continue to build the game from the base up, which will enhance Rugby throughout all its levels. Stars of the future ready to train with the NSW heroes. (Getty Images) On behalf of the Australian Rugby Union we would like to thank all the volunteers in NSW, who work so hard to ensure that the traditions and culture of Rugby are instilled into each and every one of our participants. There is no doubt that is Rugby s strongest asset. Michael Doyle Community Operations Manager NSW Australian Rugby Union Seaforth-Balgowlah Raiders players take part in the Junior March Past. (ImageMatrix) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 17

20 NSW Suburban Rugby Union Unfortunately, this annual report marks the end of an era in Suburban Rugby with the retirement of our Chairman Ian Cowboy Ross. Ian has been part of the woodwork of Suburban Rugby firstly as a player in the early 1970s and then as a very successful administrator rising through the Club, Suburban and NSW ranks. In a farewell at this year s presentation night Cowboy spoke emotionally about Suburban Rugby and the future of the game. Fittingly Suburban Rugby presented Cowboy with a perpetual trophy named in his honour to be awarded for the overall Club Champions across all Divisions. Cowboy undoubtedly leaves the Union in much better shape than when he started, and he has overseen a transformation of Suburban Rugby from a fledgling one-man operation to a vibrant, professionally-run sport. Cowboy s legacy will benefit this Union well beyond his retirement and we wish him well. Congratulations to Knox Old Boys for winning the Kentwell Cup Premiership and the Bruce Graham Shield for Division One club champions. Congratulations to Lindfield who won the Reliance Shield for Division Two Club Champions earning promotion to Division One the first time since 1996 and Hunters Hill who won the Doc Harris Shield for Division Three champions and will be promoted to Division Two. Barker Old Boys won their second consecutive Barraclough Cup Grand Final by a point, this time over UNSW. Barker s coach Alan Astley was recognised as the Union s Coach of the Year. Congratulations to Aaron Loxley for winning the Kentwell Medal for the most outstanding player in Division One. Well done also to Knox s Alex Anderson who won the Golden Knox Old Boys - Kentwell Cup Premiers and Bruce Graham Shield winners for Division 1 Club Champions. (Pic n Drive Sports Photography) Departing Chairman Ian Cowboy Ross with the trophy named in his honour. (Pic n Drive Sports Photography) Boots for Man of the Match in the Kentwell Cup Grand Final. Hunters Hill won the overall Club of the Year for their outstanding on- and off-field efforts during the last 12 months. The prestigious Service to Rugby Award was awarded to Clive Nettleton who has devoted a lifetime of service to St Ives Rugby Club. Jim Melrose was recognised at the presentation night for his TEN years service on the Judiciary. Congratulations to Damian Henry who was awarded life membership of the Union following outstanding service to the Board over 14 years and his club Brothers. Thank you to all other Board members who met regularly at Board and Sub-committee level during the course of the year. John Morrison returned as coach of the NSW Suburban representative team and they reclaimed the Barraclough Shield at Ballymore in June in convincing style. Suburban Rugby is not immune from the economic climate around us. Losing our major sponsor midway though a two-year agreement and a reduction in the Union s grant from NSWRU could have meant a disastrous year for the Union. Instead the Union took a number of proactive measures in terms of cost-saving and revenue generation without impacting directly on clubs to ensure that the grim outlook around us did not eat into the Union s reserves. Matt Want left the Union during the course of the year and was not replaced, so I must thank Tim Richards and Lisa Jane Kinny for sharing the additional workload during the busy season. Their dedication and commitment to the position is second to none and without them Suburban Rugby would not operate as efficiently or effectively. Michael Bell, Lachlan McBain and Michael Kline continue to make inroads in Junior rugby. Sydney Junior is currently undergoing a restructure the result of which should allow them to maximise the economies of scale and continue to improve the professionalism and service offered to Junior rugby clubs. The Union continues to work very closely with NSW Rugby Union. Both NSWRU Chairman Ed Zemancheff and CEO Jim L Estrange are strong supporters of Suburban Rugby and we thank them and their staff for their ongoing assistance. Thank you to the Union s sponsors. In 2009 we welcomed Skins as a sponsor, so thank you to Hodgie for your support. Pleasingly all our long term partners continued their long association of the Union and we thank them for that: Coke, Interfuse, Australian Rugby Review, Gilbert, Leuko, Icons of Sport, IST and ISC. Issues such as amateurism within Suburban Rugby and season structure are firmly on the Boards agenda and we will continue to review these items and make decisions in the best interests of Suburban Rugby and the Game. Finally thank you to all the volunteers for your tremendous efforts throughout the year and I look forward to your continued support in 2010 and beyond. Mark Green Executive Director NSW Suburban Rugby Union IST s Brian Travers presents Aaron Loxley (Campbelltown) with the 2009 Kentwell Medal. (Pic n Drive Sports Photography) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

21 NSW Country Rugby Union NSW Country Rugby Union has enjoyed a successful season in 2009, maintaining our playing numbers across our affiliated Unions Seniors, Juniors, Women s and Referees which represents 17,585 players plus Schools. This success was achieved with a minimum of fuss and a lot of hard work by a band of volunteers who continue to back-up for Rugby in the face of increasing hardships. The effects of the global financial crisis and continuing climate extremes are being felt in the majority of rural and regional NSW with drought in the west and floods in the north adding to the daily tasks of club officials. Country Rugby continues to be without a major sponsor, but with the continued President Bruce Worboys presents Mike Te Moana with the Will Tanner Award. (Getty Images) support of our loyal family of sponsors Bartercard, Beiersdorf, Best Western, BWS, Cla ssic Sportswear, Gilbert Footballs, International Sports Tours, QantasLink and The Land together with funding from NSWRU, we met our commitment to providing strong development programs for all participants. The season opened with eight of the nine zones participating in the revamped Country Championships in the Caldwell Cup, Richardson Shield and Colts, with Mid North Coast withdrawing to concentrate on developing their new competition structure. Newcastle Hunter defended the Caldwell Cup and made it a double by dominating the Colts, while Central North secured the Richardson Shield. Hunter Women completed a clean sweep for the area by winning the Womens Title. Our flagship team, the NSW Country Cockatoos, maintained a successful program despite our disappointment with the suspension of the Australian Rugby Shield (ARS). The Cockatoos played five matches for four wins, including two dominating performances over arch rivals Queensland Country. The Colts also had a reduced program, with three matches for two wins against Victorian Rugby Union teams and a draw against an ACT team. The Women Corellas again contested the National Womens Championships and finished fifth overall. As always, the Cockatoos played the game with great pride and passion and the 2009 team would hold its own with our very best over the last 20 years. A total of 28 players represented the Cockatoos this year and all developed well under the astute coaching of Paul Nixon and Jay Tregonning. The Management Team led by Dave Holt again proved that you do not have to be paid to be professional. A special mention must be made of Mike Te Moana (Armidale) who won his second Will Tanner Medal as NSW Country Rugby s Player of the Year. Country Zones produced some excellent Rugby with strong competitions throughout the State produced a number of new Premiership Clubs with particular congratulations to Narromine (Central West) and Coonamble (Western Plains) both taking out their first ever major titles. I would like to thank the NSWRU for their ongoing support in a difficult financial environment. NSWRU supports Country Rugby through a financial grant, employment of our Executive Officer, office space and Zone Administration Funding Grants. We have successfully worked within the guidelines of our MOU and there is a good spirit of cooperation between the two Unions. The Country Board members have all contributed to our success this season and I sincerely thank them for their time and commitment to Country Rugby. Our Executive Officer, Terry Woodward has managed our day-to-day affairs in a professional and passionate manner, whilst taking on significant NSWRU responsibilities including the management of the HSBC Waratahs Super 14 home game. We introduced an Ambassadors Program, welcoming former Australian Representatives Dave Carter, James Grant, Steve Merrick and Kelly Sager as Country Rugby Ambassadors. Through our participation in the Super Rugby expansion we now know we must focus on actively growing Rugby in regional and rural NSW. Maintaining our representative Josh Darby clears for the Cockatoos against NSW Suburban at the Sydney Football Stadium. (seiserphotography.com) Narromine and NSW Country s Rebecca Trethowan took out the NSW Women s Player of the Year Award. (seiserphotography.com) programs is vital to our future and must remain a priority. NSW Country Rugby Union has a vital role to play in both Australian and NSW Rugby and we look forward to the continued support of all members. Bruce Worboys President NSW Country Rugby Union 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 19

22 NSW Referees The Referees Department changed considerably in 2009 with Jamie McGregor and Ron Mancell leaving NSW Rugby to be employed by the Australian Rugby Union in Community Rugby. Robin Timmins remains with NSWRU and is now working directly for Mark Green in Competition Management. Jamie and Ron s functions have remained largely unchanged and despite the change of employer, they continued to provide largely the same service to NSWRU as in previous years. The year started with a roll-out of the complete suite of Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) to the state. The roll-out consisted of a number of information seminars conducted in the metropolitan and regional areas. There was a very successful transfer of information to referees and coaches alike, and the season got off to a successful start largely due to the effectiveness of the roll-out. The department again provided education in the form of courses, education nights and seminars to both metropolitan and regional areas throughout the season. Within Sydney, we conducted education for referees in four venues every month from March to August and we visited and conducted education to all regional referee associations at least once during the year. Our development programs for referees continued in 2009 and were very successful. With the reduction in the number of referees being supported directly by the ARU, NSWRU has had to increase the size and number of development groups to cover the shortfall at the higher levels. In 2009, the Premiership Panel (referees in first and 2nd grades premier who are not in an ARU Squad) was revitalised and was very effective during the year in assisting referees to improve and/or maintain their current performance standards. Approximately 50% of all referees in these programs were promoted to the next level during or at the end of the season. The School Scholarship Program was particularly successful and had as its highlight refereeing the entire State U14 Championships in Orange. The best referee from the championships was chosen and refereed the final at Concord. Jamie McGregor and Tim Wills should be congratulated for the way they conducted the program and the young referees should be acknowledged for their exceptional performance. The number of groups and referees within these groups will again be increased in 2010 with the addition of two new groups catering for more mature and experienced referees. With the introduction of the ELVs across all spectrums of rugby, we saw a slight decline in the number of active referees across the state. The game became much faster in 2009 with the time for ball-in-play also increasing. With Rugby again reverting to penalty kicks at the tackle and ruck in 2010, we believe that the game will slow somewhat as the frenetic need to bring the ball quickly back into play will not be as evident. This could have a positive effect on active referee numbers. In terms of highlights in refereeing, there were quite a few. Starting at the beginning of the season, the Country Championships reverting to a centralised event over a weekend in March facilitated effective referee coaching and development for country referees. NSWRU was able to participate with the Country Referees Coaching and Grading Board over the weekend and in 2010 we will have a greater involvement, particularly in the development of referee coaches at this championship. Steve Walsh joined us from New Zealand and had a successful year crowning the season with the Dick Byres Medal. Stuart Dickinson had a very successful year as an International and Super 14 referee and capped his season with the Tooheys New Shute Shield Grand Final Dick Byres Medallist Steve Walsh (l) with Dick Byres. (Getty Images) Stu Dickinson lays down the law in the 2009 Tooheys New Shute Shield Grand Final. (seiserphotography.com) English referee Wayne Barnes took charge of a Tooheys New Shute Shield match before refereeing the Wallabies-Springboks Test in Brisbane. The NSWRU Referees Department would like to thank Mazda for their continuing support in 2009 and we look forward to their support in years to come. We would also like to acknowledge the support of the NSWRRA Executive, the Executive of each District and Country Zone and all referees throughout the state. We look forward to working with the executives and members again in Ron Mancell NSWRU Referees Manager NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

23 NSW Junior Rugby Union NSW Junior Rugby Union, together with its two member Unions Sydney JRU and Country JRU provided structured Rugby competitions and representative programs for 19,549 registered Junior Club players. Collectively, Juniors in NSW is the largest Community Rugby group nationally. The NSWJRU State Championships were sponsored by the HSBC Waratahs and were a resounding success. This year the competitiveness of the carnival continued to improve and players could only play reps if they played club Rugby. The carnival involved a record 105 teams, approximately 2250 registered players and drew large numbers of spectators at locations in Sydney, Camden and Orange. In 2009 the Under 10s age group returned to the State Champs. A record 20 U10 teams took part in a development carnival playing five games each and participating in relay races organised by Tah Man. The U10s Carnival was a wonderful celebration of what Junior Club Rugby can offer, was very well-received by parents and officials and provided extensive media coverage for our Junior code. Other changes implemented included the Under 16/17s format being brought in line with all other age groups while the Under 14s pool games and semis were held in Orange. All these initiatives were a resounding success. The finals day at T.G. Millner Field was a memorable one with big crowds cheering on the 14 finalists. In attendance were Adam Freier, Peter Medway, Geoff Garland, Chris Birch, John Coolican, Peter Cosgrove, Jim L Estrange, Ron Graham and Mike Brown. Having these distinguished guests present to support Juniors as well as helping out with the presentations not only made 2009 something special but was received very well by parents and also helps immensely to market our code. The 2009 State Championships Final results were: Under 11 - Gordon 38 d Randwick 10; Under 12 - Warringah 22 d Parramatta 0; Under 13 - Norths 22 d Parramatta 12; Under 14 - Parramatta 50 d Warringah 3; Under 15 - Warringah 27 d Gordon 7; Under 16 - Sydney University 21 d Gordon 17; Under 17 - West Harbour 40 d Warringah 10. The NSWJRU U15 Regional Championships were hosted by Eastwood Juniors and were won by a very strong and talented Metropolitan Northern Zone team. Western Australia U15s participated in this year s carnival and exhibited exceptional skills and sportsmanship finishing second overall. Special thanks to Anthony Eddy and Anthony Dempsey, our after dinner speakers at the compulsory Under 15 Regional Dinner. In 2009 both the Under 15 Regional and the SJRU Under 16 Zone Carnivals were held at the same location and this was a resounding success, especially the involvement of two U16 Country teams. Sincere thanks to Eastwood Rugby Club for making their wonderful facilities available for both the State Championships and the Regional Carnivals. The annual City-Country carnival was held at Woollahra and was an outstanding success, showcasing the strength and talent of Junior Club rugby in NSW. Players came from all four corners of NSW and all had equal selection opportunities for NSWJRU State teams, which were selected based solely on a player s performance on the day. Special thanks to Peter Cosgrove, Mike Brown, Peter Medway, Jim L Estrange, John Coolican, Mike Doyle and David Brockhoff for their attendance and assistance with presentations and to Jim Davis from Rugby News for media support. Sincere thanks also to Easts for hosting a sensational carnival. Sydney were victorious in the Tim Gavin Shield (Under 14), Steve Tuynman Cup (Under 15) and Ella Cup (Under 16), while Country claimed the honours in the Michael Brial Cup (Under 17). The NSWJRU representative program began with an official jersey presentation at NSWRU headquarters. This is a new initiative of NSWRU and NSW Juniors to celebrate the selection of junior club players in the two State squads. Approximately 130 players and parents attended. Jim L Estrange and Chris Hickey made formal presentations to the whole group followed by morning tea. It was an historic year for our rep program was the first occasion NSW Juniors has played a home game against Queensland Juniors since 1992, the inaugural occasion that ACT Juniors played Queensland Juniors in U15s and U17s in Sydney, and the first time Queensland Junior sides participated in their own City-Country Carnival with Queensland Juniors selecting state sides from this clash. The games on 3-4 October this year were an important milestone for the three Junior State Unions in providing a quality rep pathway and equal selection opportunities for junior club players from all regions. NSW Juniors were victorious in both the George Smith Shield (Under 15) and Stirling NSW Country Junior Player of the Year Alex Gibbon (l) and Sydney Junior Player of the Year Baden Donegal (r) with NSWJRU President John Spana. (Getty Images) Mortlock Shield (Under 17) against ACT Juniors, however Queensland defeated NSW Juniors in the Jason Little Shield (Under 15) and Chris Latham Shield (Under 17). Many thanks to coaches Tony Dempsey (U15) and Michael Kelynack (U17) and to their respective teams, for the outstanding effort in preparing and developing the players. We sincerely appreciate the strong support and assistance from Jim L Estrange, Mark Green, Michael Doyle and Anthony Eddy for the NSWJRU Rep Program. In 2009 a Juniors brochure was produced, articulating the representative pathway for junior club players in NSW. Many thanks to Justin Hollis and others who contributed to this outstanding reference resource for players, parents and officials. Well done and congratulations to Baden Donegal, Sydney JRU Player of the Year and Alex Gibbon, CJRU Player of the Year. Both players had great seasons representing their respective city and country sides and then going on to play for NSWJRU Under 17. The three Junior Unions received genuine support from NSWRU and this made a significant and positive difference in running their activities during the year. Special thanks to Michael Bell, Lachlan McBain, Michael Kline, Mark Green, Ron Mancell, Michael Doyle, Jim L Estrange, Peter Medway, John Coolican and Geoff Garland has been a good year all round for Juniors. All our events were strongly supported, the quality of rugby and rep teams was the talking point of many and a number of major changes and initiatives took place. It was a busy and productive year. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and hard work put in by Kim Rea, Kerry Brady, Bonnie West, Justin Hollis, Michael Dodd, Paul Taylor and Charles McCarthy. John Spana NSWJRU President 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 21

24 Sydney Women s Rugby Union 2009 was a season of great change and challenge for Sydney Women s Rugby union (SWRU) and Women s Rugby in general. Following a spirited but productive Annual General Meeting in February, the member clubs voted to restructure SWRU. The existing system of one delegate per member club was replaced with defined positions. This move proved to be very successful with Committee members now having more defined roles. The union was also able to cope with losing its main sponsor and move forward successfully. Sadly SWRU was to carry on the trend of previous years and reduce team numbers. Hawkesbury Valley Rugby Club (NSW Suburban Rugby affiliate) expressed interest in entering a team however were unable to get the numbers required in time for the 2009 season. With these changes there were six teams competing for the Jack Scott Memorial Trophy. Though the teams were few, the standard of Women s Rugby in Sydney was excellent. Sydney launched a campaign to defend 2008 National Champion status. The National Championships were once again held on the Gold Coast in July, and the new committee and players did a great job raising $10,000 through raffles to fund the tour. In a repeat of 2008, Sydney once again met Queensland in the final. The Sydney team went in to the match confident after two decisive victories against Victoria (76-0) and Western Australia (29-0). However it was not to be when Queensland crossed the line in the dying minutes to steal a victory. This year saw the introduction of a second tier of competition at the National level. Sydney was represented in this Division Two competition in the form of a NSW Development XV. Participants were selected for this team at a match between Sydney A and Hunter played at Nepean Rugby Park in June. Ten players from SWRU were successful in selection onto the 22-player squad. The team was a great opportunity to showcase new talent and was a great collaborative effort between SWRU, Hunter Women s Rugby Union and NSW Country Following the National Championships Final, the Australian Rugby Union announced a Wallaroo squad of 40 players. Of the 40 players selected, 20 were from NSW including 13 current Sydney players. Ten of these Sydney players went on to represent Australia against Samoa in the World Cup qualifier: Alex Hargreaves and Kate Porter from Sydney University, and Cheryl Soon [c] Cobie-Jane Morgan, Ruan Sims, Danielle Meskell, Dalena Dennison, Tui Ormbsy, Nicole Beck and Chris Ross from Warringah. Australia won the match 87-0 to secure a berth at the 2010 World Cup in London. Cheryl Soon also captained Australia to victory at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai, and was one of the sport s key presenters to the International Olympic Committee during Rugby Sevens successful bid to be admitted to the Games in The 2009 Sydney Grand Final played a T.G. Millner Field was a repeat of 2008 with Warringah once again meeting Sydney Selene Thornton in full flight for Sydney during the National Championship Final. (seiserphotography.com) University. Warringah were vying for their fifth victory in a row and were always the favourites with nine players on the Wallaroo Squad. Despite a herculean effort by the Students the final score was Warringah 36 Sydney University 19. The Grand Final was followed by the return of the SWRU Awards night. SWRU sponsored three Awards for each club, Best Back, Best Forward and Most Improved Player. The Most Iimproved Club Shield, as voted by the member clubs, went to Penrith Shemus. SWRU are working hard to meet the challenges for the 2010 season, focussing on retaining and recruiting new players, assisting to establish new teams, working with Schools and continuing to produce outstanding players for the State and National Sides. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the SWRU Committee for their outstanding efforts this season as I wish the best of luck to all of the Sydney Women playing for the Wallaroos in the 2010 Women s Rugby World Cup. Kelly Rees-Zarb President Sydney Women s Rugby Union Warringah, Sydney and Australian captain Cheryl Soon holds aloft the Women s Sevens World Cup trophy. (Getty Images) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

25 NSW Schools Rugby Union At long last the drought has broken for the NSW Schools Rugby Union insofar as National titles are concerned, with the outstanding victory of the Under 16 team in the National Championships held in Sydney in October. Congratulations must be extended to the players, selectors and most significantly to the coaching staff of Dean Hargraves, (St Ignatius College, Riverview), Dean Oxley (St Stanislaus College, Bathurst) and John Rownes (Knox Grammar School) who prepared the team over an extended period of time in a thoroughly professional manner. They left nothing to chance in their preparation and have been suitably rewarded for their sustained dedication. Knox Grammar School once again provided its excellent facilities for our selection trials and those who were present for the night fixture between GPS and CAS were treated to a spectacle. Appreciation must be extended to Chuck Ardron and his band of helpers and the parents supporters group for the faultless manner in which these trials were conducted. Whilst on a positive footing congratulations must be extended to the Combined Catholic Colleges sub-union and convener Chris Hicks for their on-going progress which culminated in hosting a match against Tonga, its first international fixture in more than 20 years. CCC also has some very exciting plans in place for 2010 and we wish them well in their endeavours to expand the game in western Sydney. Disappointingly our Open teams once again failed to live up to expectations in the Australian Rugby Football Schools Union Championships. With the Championships being held on familiar territory at Knox Grammar it was hoped that greater success may be achieved than in the previous three years but that was not the case with neither of our teams reaching the final. Admittedly the teams had very little time for preparation, first assembling on the Saturday prior to the Championships Wednesday start. However, I believe that this was not the most telling of factors. Whilst the trial matches were competitive the overall standard of play and display of skills was not particularly high. This may, in part, have been due to the lack of competitive Rugby that many had played, especially those from CHS who sadly, nowadays, have very limited competition opportunities. Additionally, the GPS competition was in its infancy. Hopefully this situation will be improved next year, particularly with GPS signalling its intent to reschedule the timing of its competition which will give players more time to develop match fitness and selectors more opportunities to assess player ability. The coaching staff of the teams (NSW I: John Papahatzis, Paul Kipp and Paul Ridgway; NSW II: Peter Reeves, Peter Gibson and John Guy) did a wonderful job given the constraints unwittingly imposed upon them and have all expressed a desire to make amends next year. The selectors must also be highly commended for the time and effort that they put in to this most thankless of tasks. Once again, a highly successful presentation function, to which the players and their parents were invited, was held. The venue NSW I line up before their clash with Queensland II at was the The National Rugby Championships. Club and we are grateful for (seiserphotography.com) their support, as we are to guest presenter, NSW Schools Player of the Year, Jacob Woodhouse. (seiserphotography.com) former NSWSRU player and current Wallaby Pek Cowan who made a wonderful impression on all in attendance. Congratulations to the winners of the various competitions, especially St Augustine s, Brookvale who beat St Stanislaus College, Bathurst for the second successive year in the final of the Waratah Shield. This competition, however, needs an injection of new ideas as the number of entrants and, thus, number of matches played has dramatically decreased in recent times. Once again I wish to pay tribute to the two hardest working members of the Committee; secretary Greg Gerrard and treasurer Andrew Elliot. The amount of work that they do for Schools Rugby is not always highly visible but is absolute necessary to keep an organisation such as this functioning efficiently. Appreciation is extended to the other members of the Committee but I want to challenge incoming members to seek ways in which they can make greater contributions. We are also grateful to Carol Johnson who continues to cheerfully and generously manage our website. Appreciation must be extended to the NSWRU for its continued support during difficult financial times. NSWRU Youth Board member Geoff Garland was always available to assist wherever possible and gave invaluable feedback whenever needed. Mark Green s support and assistance was also very much appreciated. Colin Murray NSWSRU President 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 23

26 School Associations COMBINED ASSOCIATED SCHOOLS The Combined Associated Schools Rugby season was again a very competitive and enjoyable season for all involved. This season was the first attempt at the ten-week homeand-away structure and proved to be a big success for all players, staff and spectators. Knox Grammar School tied with Waverley College in the 1st XV premiership and are co-holders of the Henry Plume Shield. CAS schools also enjoyed the option to play their traditional fixtures against some ISA and GPS schools. The representative season also proved to be one of the most successful for some time with good wins in the Opens over CHS, GPS and ISA, and as a result a record number of boys went on to represent NSW and Australian Schools. The Under 16 teams also achieved some good results with three players going on to be selected in the NSW side. Martin Haywood Convenor, CAS Rugby Combined Catholic Colleges The NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) selection carnival was once again held at UWS Hawkesbury, Richmond in May with 16 teams from across NSW descending upon the campus for the tournament. The CCC Carnival is now the largest Schoolboys selection carnival in NSW with some 350 players and 50 officials helping to facilitate the event. Wollongong/Southern Sydney Dioceses won the Under 18 tournament whilst Metropolitan Catholic Schools were victorious in the Under 16s division. The CCC U18 defeated NSW Country and CHS II; CCC U16s were defeated by ISA I and the President s XV, but did defeat Combined Government Schools. The high point of the CCC Representative program was the Schoolboy international played against Tongan Schools at St Dominic s College, Penrith in September. The match was played in a great spirit, and the Tongan team was victorious Chris Hicks Convenor, CCC Rugby Combined High Schools South Coast Area along with Shoalhaven Rugby Club hosted this year s CHS State Championships at Nowra with the weather fine and the track fast for the three days. GPS and CAS do battle under lights at Knox Grammar School. (seiserphotography.com) Sydney South West Area defeated Sydney West Area in a wonderful and close game to claim the title and Ethan Ford from Kiama HS won the prestigious Macpherson Medal for Player of the Carnival. CHS travelled north of the border this year for the annual interstate fixture against Queensland CHS, with the Sax Blues reversing last year s result and taking the points. Refereeing has been encouraged for CHS students and I thank Mr Buttress-Grove for his help in this endeavour and valuable aspect of our game. In this year s knockouts St Augustine s College Brookvale defeated St Stanislaus College, Bathurst in a nail-biter, to be backto-back holders of the Waratah Shield. Northern Beaches College defeated Endeavour Sports High Schoolin a high class game to take out the Buchan Shield. Mitchell High School again retained the Shaw Shield, defeating Eaglevale High School, while Sarah Redfern High School defeated Tuggerah Lakes College to win the U15 girls trophy. Glenn Clayton Convenor, CHS Rugby Greater Public Schools Congratulations to St Ignatius College, Riverview and The King s School who were joint Premiers in the Challenge Shield. In the second grade competition, The Corr Cup, The King s School were undefeated Premiers. The GPS representative fixtures were held at the conclusion of Term II and were played at Knox Grammar School. Three teams were chosen and enjoyed strong performances against the CAS, CHS and ISA. The Annual GPS Rugby Dinner was held at Shore School, and our guest speaker was Damien Fitzpatrick. Damien presented the jerseys to the GPS 1st XV with the Chairman of the AAGPS, Mr Tony Lantry. I would like to thank the coaches of the GPS teams for their time and expertise. Mr Tim Wallace and Mr Alistair Miller (Shore), Mr Phil Lenard and Mr David Idstein (King s) and Mr Marcus Blackburn and Mr Andrew Cleverley (Scot s) provided outstanding coaching and guidance to the boys and for that I am most grateful. Mike Ticehurst Convenor, GPS Rugby Independent Schools Association ISA rugby continued to flourish in 2009 with the overall standard of all competitions improving each year. The 1st XV competition which historically included St Gregory s College, Campbelltown for the first time was not decided until the final round, with St Augustine s College, Brookvale the worthy premiers. Congratulations St Augustine s and Oakhill College on sharing NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

27 School Associations Exchange is expected to take place in South Australia in The NSWPSSA has once again greatly benefited from its continued relationship with all the Development Staff from NSW Rugby in attendance at our State Carnival. Their expertise was greatly appreciated by the teams. We look forward to continuing this close association at next years carnival in Wagga Wagga. The Bryan Palmer Shield competition was a great success with more teams than last year competing. Newport defeated Burraneer Bay and Dubbo South defeated Tamworth in the semi-finals. Newport then defeated a very gallant Dubbo South 12-0 in a close final. The score doesn t really indicate how close the game was. Zac Fell (St Edwards College, Gosford) looks for space during CCC s clash with Tongan Schools. (seiserphotography.com) the Schools Championship Shield for St Augustine s completed a treble by also winning the Waratah Shield. The ISA representative teams performed well this season, with the trials once again held in the second week of May at Oxford Falls. Co-ordination of the representative season is an enormous task and once again Paul Geddes from Central Coast Grammar did an excellent job preparing teams for the NSWSRU Championships. Well done also to Darren Lawrenson from St Andrew s Cathedral School who coordinated the Under 16 teams. Steve Tulevski Convenor, ISA Rugby NSW Country Schools A successful year for NSW Country Schools was characterised by an array of representative rugby opportunities for schoolboys across regional NSW. A successful trip to New Zealand during the April school holidays continued the tradition of overseas development tours for the union., whilea a large development squad to tour South Africa in 2010 was selected at the conclusion of the annual championships in Tamworth. Hunter won an unprecedented fifth straight Bernie McGrane Shield in the opens, while Far North Coast defnded the Under 16 Donald Wiburd Cup. Performance at the NSW selection trials continued to improve with a return to the winners list after a quiet few years, with four players went on represent NSW Schools. The Under 16 representative program increased to three matches this year with the unprecedented success of a 2-1 win loss record. Matt de Dassel Treasurer NSW Country Schools Rugby Primary Schools Sports Association The NSWPSSA has once again greatly benefited from its continued relationship with all the Development Staff from NSW Rugby in attendance at our State Carnival. Their expertise was greatly appreciated by the teams. We look forward to continuing this close association at next year s carnival in Wagga Wagga. The Bryan Palmer Shield was a great success with more teams than last year competing. Newport defeated Burraneer Bay and Dubbo South defeated Tamworth in the semi-finals, before Newport defeated Dubbo South in a close final. Sydney South West hosted the State Carnival at Camden in August. Combined Independent Schools defeated MacKillop in a close game. In 2010 the Carnival will be hosted by Riverina in Wagga. The Interstate Exchange was hosted by Brumbies Rugby in Canberra. This involved teams from NSWPSSA, ACT Under 12, Victoria Under 12 and South Australia Under 12. NSWPSSA were the dominant team in this carnival, remaining undefeated without a point being scored against them. The Sydney South West hosted the State Carnival at Camden in August. Combined Independent Schools defeated MacKillop in a close game. In 2010 the Carnival will be hosted by Riverina in Wagga. The Interstate Exchange was hosted by ACT Brumbies in Canberra. This involved teams from NSWPSSA, ACT U12 s, Victorian U12 s and South Australian U12 s. NSWPSSA were the dominant team in this carnival, remaining undefeated- without a point being scored against them. The Exchange is expected to take place in South Australia in Grant Fuller NSWPSSA Rugby Convener CHS s Tyson Frizell (Illawarra Sports High School) went on to represent NSW and Australian Schools in (seiserphotography.com) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 25

28 2009 Super 14 Results Legend: * NSW Debut; ^ NSW Super 14 Debut; ~ Reserve not used. ROUND 1 HURRICANES V HSBC WARATAHS Saturday 14 February 2009 Westpac Stadium, Wellington NZL. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Timana Tahu, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Kurtley Beale, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Scott Fava*^, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen*^; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Adam Freier, 17. Jeremy Tilse~, 18. Chris Thomson*^, 19. Wycliff Palu, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Daniel Halangahu~, 22. Tom Carter. HSBC Waratahs 26 (Sam Norton-Knight, Lote Tuqiri, Lachie Turner, Rob Horne tries; Kurtley Beale 3 cons) d Hurricanes 22 (Daniel Kirkpatrick, Dane Coles, Hosea Gear tries; Daniel Kirkpatrick 2 cons, pen) at Westpac Stadium, Wellington. Half-time: HSBC Waratahs Referee: Stu Dickinson (AUS). Crowd: 13,877. Man of the Match: Cory Jane (Hurricanes). Dr Sharron Flahive attends to Phil Waugh on his trip to the Wellington blood bin. (Getty Images) Round 2 HSBC WARATAHS V CHIEFS Friday 20 February 2009 Sydney Football Stadium, NSW. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Timana Tahu, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Kurtley Beale, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Adam Freier, 17. Dan Palmer~, 18. Chris Thomson, 19. Scott Fava, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Daniel Halangahu, 22. Tom Carter. HSBC Waratahs 11 (Timana Tahu try; Kurtley Beale pen, drop) d Chiefs 7 (Sona Taumalolo try; Stephen Donald conversion) at Sydney Football Stadium. Half-time: Chiefs 7-5. Referee: Stu Dickinson (AUS). Crowd: 21,581. TAB Sportsbet Man of the Match: Brendon Leonard (Chiefs). Rob Horne looks to break the Chiefs line. (Getty Images) Round 3 HSBC WARATAHS V HIGHLANDERS Friday 27 February 2009 Sydney Football Stadium, NSW. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Tom Carter, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Kurtley Beale, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Adam Freier, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Dan Palmer, 18. Chris Thomson, 19. Scott Fava~, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Daniel Halangahu, 22. Timana Tahu. HSBC Waratahs 34 (Lote Tuqiri, Ben Mowen, Wycliff Palu, Brett Sheehan tries; Kurtley Beale 3 cons, 2 pens, Daniel Halangahu con) d Highlanders 16 (Jason Shoemark try; Daniel Bowden 3 pens, con) at Sydney Football Stadium. Half-time: HSBC Waratahs Referee: James Leckie (AUS). Crowd: 19,492. TAB Sportsbet Man of the Match: Kurtley Beale (HSBC Waratahs). Tatafu Polota-Nau greets Brett Sheehan after his bonus point try against the Highlanders. (Getty Images) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

29 2009 Super 14 Results Round 4 HSBC WARATAHS V QUEENSLAND REDS (Templeton Cup) Friday 6 March 2009 Sydney Football Stadium NSW. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Tom Carter, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Kurtley Beale, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RE- SERVES: 16. Adam Freier, 17. Dan Palmer~, 18. Chris Thomson~, 19. Dave Dennis~, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Daniel Halangahu~, 22. Timana Tahu. HSBC Waratahs 15 (Benn Robinson, Timana Tahu tries; Kurtley Beale con, pen) d Queensland Reds 11 (Peter Hynes try; Ben Lucas 2 pens) at Sydney Football Stadium. Half-time: Reds Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZL). Crowd: 28,109. TAB Sportsbet Man of the Match: Sam Norton-Knight (HSBC Waratahs). Luke Burgess celebrates as Benn Robinson crashes over the Queensland line. (Getty Images) Round 5 BRUMBIES V HSBC WARATAHS Friday 13 March 2009 Canberra Stadium ACT. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Timana Tahu, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Kurtley Beale, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Dean Mumm; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Chris Thomson; 3. Dan Palmer, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Adam Freier, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Luke Doherty*^, 19. Ben Mowen, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Daniel Halangahu, 22. Tom Carter. Brumbies 21 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, Ben Alexander tries; Mark Gerrard 3 pens, con) d HSBC Waratahs 11 (Lachie Turner try; Kurtley Beale 2 pens) at Canberra Stadium. Half-time: Brumbies 6-3. Referee: Mark Lawrence (RSA). Crowd: 21,594. Will Caldwell fights the tackle of Brumbies hooker Stephen Moore. (Getty Images) Round 6 HSBC WARATAHS V CRUSADERS (Rotomahana Challenge) Saturday 21 March 2009 ANZ Stadium NSW. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Tom Carter, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Kurtley Beale, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Dean Mumm; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Chris Thomson; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick*^, 17. Dan Palmer, 18. Luke Doherty, 19. Ben Mowen, 20. Brett Sheehan~, 21. Daniel Halangahu, 22. Timana Tahu. Crusaders 17 (Kieran Read, Leon MacDonald tries; Colin Slade con, pen, Stephen Brett con) d HSBC Waratahs 13 (Benn Robinson try; Kurtley Beale con, pen, Daniel Halangahu pen) at ANZ Stadium, Sydney. Half-time: Crusaders 7-0. Referee: Chris Pollock (NZL). Crowd: 32,469. TAB Sportsbet Man of the Match: Andy Ellis (Crusaders). Lote Tuqiri takes on the Crusaders defence. (Getty Images) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 27

30 2009 Super 14 Results Round 7 HSBC WARATAHS V BLUES Friday 27 March 2009 Eden Park, Auckland NZL. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Tom Carter, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Dan Palmer, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick~, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Chris Thomson, 19. Luke Doherty~, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Kurtley Beale, 22. Timana Tahu. HSBC Waratahs 27 (Daniel Halangahu, Luke Burgess, Tatafu Polota-Nau tries; Daniel Halangahu 3 cons, 2 pens) d Blues 22 (Anthony Tuitavake, Onosai i Auva a, Michael Hobbs tries; Jimmy Gopperth 2 cons, pen) at Eden Park, Auckland. Half-time: HSBC Waratahs Referee: Craig Joubert (RSA). Crowd: Around 17,500. Daniel Halangahu crosses the Blues line in his first start for (Getty Images). Round 8 HSBC WARATAHS V STORMERS Saturday 4 April 2009 Sydney Football Stadium NSW. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Tom Carter, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Dan Palmer, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Chris Thomson, 19. Luke Doherty, 20. Brett Sheehan~, 21. Kurtley Beale, 22. Timana Tahu. HSBC Waratahs 12 (Lachie Turner 2 tries; Daniel Halangahu con) d Stormers 6 (Peter Grant 2 pens) at Sydney Football Stadium. Half-time: HSBC Waratahs 7-3. Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZL). Crowd: 21,928. TAB Sportsbet Man of the Match: Lachie Turner (HSBC Waratahs). Teammates celebrate with Lachie Turner after the first of two tries against the Stormers. (Getty Images) Round 9 HSBC WARATAHS V BULLS Saturday 11 April 2009 Sydney Football Stadium NSW. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Rob Horne, 12. Tom Carter, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Dan Palmer, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Chris Thomson~, 19. Luke Doherty, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Kurtley Beale, 22. Timana Tahu. Bulls 20 (Bryan Habana, Werner Kruger tries; Morne Steyn 2 cons, pen, drop) d HSBC Waratahs 6 (Daniel Halangahu pen, Kurtley Beale pen) at Sydney Football Stadium. Half-time: Bulls 7-3. Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (RSA). Crowd: 21,208. TAB Sportsbet Man of the Match: Morne Steyn (Bulls) Tom Carter attempts to chip-and-chase past the Bulls defence. (Getty Images) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

31 2009 Super 14 Results Round 10 HSBC WARATAHS V WESTERN FORCE Saturday 18 April 2009 Sydney Football Stadium NSW. 15. Sam Norton-Knight; 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Timana Tahu, 12. Tom Carter, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Brett Sheehan; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Dan Palmer, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick~, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Chris Thomson, 19. Luke Doherty, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Kurtley Beale, 22. Peter Playford~. Western Force 15 (Cameron Shepherd, Scott Staniforth tries; Matt Giteau con, pen) d HSBC Waratahs 14 (Will Caldwell try; Daniel Halangahu 3 pens) at Sydney Football Stadium. Half-time: HSBC Waratahs 9-3. Referee: James Leckie (AUS). Crowd: 22,317. TAB Sportsbet Man of the Match: Scott Staniforth (Western Force). Ben Mowen flies high in the lineout over the Force s Richard Brown. (Getty Images) Round 12 CHEETAHS V HSBC WARATAHS Friday 1 May 2009 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein RSA. 15. Lachie Turner; 14. Peter Playford^, 13. Timana Tahu, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Brett Sheehan; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Chris Thomson~, 19. Luke Doherty, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Matt Carraro, 22. Tom Carter. HSBC Waratahs 18 (Lachie Turner, Luke Burgess tries; Daniel Halangahu 2 pens, con) d Cheetahs 10 (JW Jonker try; Naas Olivier con, pen) at Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein. Half-time: HSBC Waratahs 8-0. Referee: Marius Jonker (RSA). Man of the Match: Wycliff Palu (Waratahs). Benn Robinson plays the role of scrumhalf in Bloemfontein. (Getty Images) Round 13 SHARKS V HSBC WARATAHS Saturday 9 May 2009 ABSA Stadium, Durban RSA. 15. Lachie Turner; 14. Peter Playford, 13. Timana Tahu, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick~, 17. Sekope Kepu~, 18. Chris Thomson~, 19. Luke Doherty, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Sam Norton- Knight, 22. Tom Carter. HSBC Waratahs 16 (Timana Tahu, Peter Playford tries; Daniel Halangahu 2 pens) d Sharks 12 (Ruan Pienaar 4 pens) at ABSA Stadium Durban. Half-time: HSBC Waratahs 8-6. Referee: Mark Lawrence (RSA). Man of the Match: Phil Waugh (Waratahs). Timana Tahu crashes over against the Sharks in Durban. (Getty Images) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 29

32 2009 Super 14 Results Round 14 LIONS V HSBC WARATAHS Friday 15 May 2009 Ellis Park, Johannesburg RSA. 15. Lachie Turner; 14. Peter Playford, 13. Timana Tahu, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Lote Tuqiri; 10. Daniel Halangahu, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. Phil Waugh [c], 6. Ben Mowen; 5. Will Caldwell, 4. Dean Mumm; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick~, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Chris Thomson~, 19. Luke Doherty, 20. Brett Sheehan, 21. Sam Norton- Knight, 22. Tom Carter. HSBC Waratahs 38 (Lachie Turner, Dean Mumm, Phil Waugh, Peter Playford, Tom Carter tries; Daniel Halangahu 5 cons, pen) d Lions 33 (Jano Vermaak 2, Willem Alberts tries; Andrew Pretorius 3 cons, 2 pens, 2 cons) at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Half-time: HSBC Waratahs Referee: Marius Jonker (RSA). Man of the Match: Willem Alberts (Lions). Kurtley Beale is collared by Doppies la Grange at Ellis Park. (Getty Images) HSBC Waratahs 2009 Back Row: Ratu Nasiganiyavi, Dan Palmer, Peter Playford, Timana Tahu, Sam Norton-Knight, Sekope Kepu, Lachie Turner, Ben Batger, Luke Burgess Middle Row: Al Baxter, Scott Fava, Rob Horne, Ben Mowen, Will Caldwell, Chris Thomson, Dean Mumm, Matt Carraro, Jeremy Tilse, Dave Dennis, Tom Carter Front Row: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Wycliff Palu, Daniel Halangahu, Lote Tuqiri, Chris Hickey (Head Coach), Phil Waugh (Captain), Chris Webb (Manager), Kurtley Beale, Benn Robinson, Brett Sheehan, Adam Freier Absent: Matt Dunning, Beau Robinson NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

33 2009 Wallabies Results Legend: * Test debut; ^ Reserve not used 2009 AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVES (HSBC Waratahs & Tooheys New Shute Shield players) Ben Alexander (Eastwood/Brumbies), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Northern Suburbs/Brumbies), Al Baxter (Northern Suburbs/HSBC Waratahs), Kurtley Beale (Northern Suburbs/HSBC Waratahs), Luke Burgess (Sydney University/ HSBC Waratahs), Mark Chisholm (Randwick/ Brumbies), Pek Cowan (Warringah/Western Force), Ryan Cross (Eastern Suburbs/Western Force), Dave Dennis (Sydney University/HSBC Waratahs), Matt Dunning (Eastwood/HSBC Waratahs), Matt Hodgson (Eastern Suburbs/ Western Force), Sekope Kepu (Randwick/ HSBC Waratahs), Salesi Ma afu (West Harbour/ Brumbies), Drew Mitchell (Randwick/Western Force), Stirling Mortlock (Gordon/Brumbies), Dean Mumm (Sydney University/HSBC Waratahs), Wycliff Palu (Manly/HSBC Waratahs), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta/HSBC Waratahs), Benn Robinson (Eastwood/HSBC Waratahs), George Smith (Manly/Brumbies), Tyrone Smith (Manly/Brumbies), Matt Toomua (Eastern Suburbs/Brumbies) Lachie Turner (Eastwood/ HSBC Waratahs), Josh Valentine (Randwick/ Western Force), Phil Waugh (Sydney University/ HSBC Waratahs). First Test AUSTRALIA V ITALY Saturday 13 June 2009 Canberra Stadium ACT 15. James O Connor, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Stirling Mortlock [c], 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Richard Brown, 7. George Smith, 6. Dean Mumm; 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. James Horwill; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Peter Kimlin*, 19. David Pocock, 20. Josh Valentine^, 21. Quade Cooper, 22. Adam Ashley-Cooper. Australia 31 (James O Connor 3, Matt Giteau, Stirling Mortlock tries; Matt Giteau 3 cons) d Italy 8 (Kaine Robertson try; Luke McLean pen). Trophee des Bicentenaries AUSTRALIA V FRANCE Saturday 27 June 2009 ANZ Stadium, Sydney NSW 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Stirling Mortlock [c], 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Richard Brown, 7. George Smith, 6. Dean Mumm; 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. James Horwill; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Phil Waugh, 19. David Pocock, 20. Josh Valentine, 21. Ryan Cross, 22. James O Connor. Australia 22 (Matt Giteau try; Matt Giteau 5 pens, con) d France 6 (Lionel Beauxis pen, Dmitri Yachvili pen). Uncapped International AUSTRALIA V BARBARIANS Saturday 6 June 2009 Sydney Football Stadium NSW 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Stirling Mortlock [c], 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Richard Brown, 7. George Smith, 6. Matt Hodgson, 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. James Horwill, 3. Al Baxter, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. David Pocock, 20. Josh Valentine, 21. Quade Cooper, 22. James O Connor. Australia 55 (Drew Mitchell 2, James Horwill, Matt Giteau, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander, David Pocock, James O Connor tries; Matt Giteau 4 cons, pen, Stirling Mortlock 2 cons) d Barbarians 7 (Iain Balshaw try; Luke McAlister con). Tatafu Polota-Nau prepares for a lineout against Italy in Canberra. (Getty Images) Second Test AUSTRALIA V ITALY Saturday 20 June 2009 Etihad Stadium, Melbourne VIC 15. James O Connor, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Ryan Cross, 12. Quade Cooper, 11. Peter Hynes; 10. Berrick Barnes, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. George Smith [c], 7. David Pocock, 6. Peter Kimlin; 5. Dean Mumm, 4. James Horwill; 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Pek Cowan*. RESERVES: 16. Stephen Moore^, 17. Benn Robinson^, 18. Nathan Sharpe^, 19. Phil Waugh, 20. Josh Valentine, 21. Matt Giteau^, 22. Adam Ashley-Cooper. Australia 34 (Adam Ashley-Cooper 2, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ryan Cross, Lachie Turner tries; James O Connor 2 cons, pen, Berrick Barnes con) d Italy 12 (Luke McLean 4 pens). Waratah great Nathan Grey chats to current NSW players Benn Robinson and Dean Mumm after the Test against France. (Getty Images) Bledisloe Cup 1 / Tri-Nations 1 NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA Saturday 18 July 2009 Eden Park, Auckland NZL 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Stirling Mortlock [c], 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. George Smith, 6. Richard Brown; 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. James Horwill; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau^, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Dean Mumm^, 19. Phil Waugh^, 20. David Pocock, 21. Will Genia*, 22. James O Connor. New Zealand 22 (Richie McCaw try; Stephen Donald 5 pens, con) d Australia 16 (Berrick Barnes try; Matt Giteau 3 pens, con). NSW s most-capped player Chris Whitaker takes on the Wallabies at the Sydney Football Stadium. (Getty Images) Phil Waugh marshals the troops in Melbourne against the Azzurri. (Getty Images) Luke Burgess surveys the scene at scrum-time in Auckland. (Getty Images) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 31

34 2009 Wallabies Results Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate 1 / Tri-Nations 4 SOUTH AFRICA V AUSTRALIA Saturday 8 August 2009 Newlands, Cape Town RSA 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Stirling Mortlock [c], 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. George Smith, 6. Richard Brown; 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. James Horwill; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. David Pocock, 20. Will Genia, 21. Peter Hynes^, 22. James O Connor. South Africa 29 (Victor Matfield try; Morne Steyn 7 pens, drop) d Australia 17 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Giteau tries; Matt Giteau 2 cons, Berrick Barnes pen). Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate 2 / Tri-Nations 6 AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Saturday 29 August 2009 Subiaco Oval, Perth WA 15. James O Connor, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Ryan Cross, 12. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11. Peter Hynes; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Richard Brown, 7. George Smith [c], 6. Rocky Elsom; 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. James Horwill; 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Al Baxter*, 18. Dean Mumm*, 19. David Pocock, 20. Will Genia, 21. Quade Cooper, 22. Drew Mitchell. South Africa 32 (Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana tries; Morne Steyn 3 cons, 2 pens) d Australia 25 (Matt Giteau 2, Lachie Turner tries; Matt Giteau 2 cons, 2 pens). Bledisloe Cup 3 / Tri-Nations 9 NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA Saturday 19 September 2009 Westpac Stadium, Wellington NZL 15. James O Connor, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Will Genia; 8. George Smith [c], 7. David Pocock, 6. Rocky Elsom; 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. James Horwill; 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Stephen Moore, 17. Pek Cowan, 18. Dean Mumm^, 19. Wycliff Palu, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Quade Cooper^, 22. Peter Hynes^. New Zealand 33 (Cory Jane, Ma a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko tries; Dan Carter 4 pens, 3 cons) d Australia 6 (Matt Giteau pen, Berrick Barnes drop). Al Baxter packs down in Cape Town. (Getty Images) Bledisloe Cup 2 / Tri-Nations 5 NEW ZEALAND V AUSTRALIA Saturday 22 August 2009 ANZ Stadium, Sydney NSW 15. James O Connor, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Luke Burgess; 8. Richard Brown, 7. George Smith [c], 6. Rocky Elsom; 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. James Horwill; 3. Al Baxter, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Ben Alexander, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. David Pocock, 20. Will Genia, 21. Ryan Cross, 22. Peter Hynes. New Zealand 19 (Ma a Nonu try; Dan Carter 4 pens, con) d Australia 18 (Matt Giteau 6 pens). Lachie Turner is wrapped up by the Boks in Perth. (Getty Images) Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate 3 / Tri-Nations 7 AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA Saturday 5 September 2009 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane QLD 15. James O Connor, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Berrick Barnes, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Will Genia; 8. George Smith [c], 7. David Pocock, 6. Rocky Elsom; 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. James Horwill; 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Stephen Moore, 17. Pek Cowan, 18. Dean Mumm^, 19. Wycliff Palu^, 20. Luke Burgess^, 21. Quade Cooper, 22. Peter Hynes. Australia 21 (Adam Ashley-Cooper, James O Connor tries; Matt Giteau 2 pens, con, drop) d South Africa 6 (Morne Steyn pen, drop). Wycliff Palu carries defenders in Wellington. (Getty Images) Bledisloe Cup 4 AUSTRALIA V NEW ZEALAND Saturday 31 October 2009 National Stadium, Tokyo JPN 15. James O Connor, 14. Peter Hynes, 13. Ryan Cross, 12. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11. Digby Ioane; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Will Genia; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. David Pocock, 6. Rocky Elsom [c]; 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. James Horwill; 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Matt Dunning^, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. George Smith, 20. Luke Burgess^, 21. Drew Mitchell^, 22. Quade Cooper^. New Zealand 32 (Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith tries; Dan Carter 6 pens, 2 cons) d Australia 19 (Peter Hynes try; Matt Giteau 4 pens, con). A dejected Dean Mumm after the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney. (Getty Images) Benn Robinson celebrates victory over the world champions in Brisbane. (Getty Images) Australia line up for an historic Test in Tokyo. (Getty Images) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

35 2009 Wallabies Results Legend: * Test debut; ^ Reserve not used Uncapped International GLOUCESTER V AUSTRALIA Tuesday 2 November 2009 Kingsholm, Gloucester ENG 15. Kurtley Beale, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Ryan Cross, 12. Tyrone Smith, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Richard Brown, 7. Matt Hodgson, 6. Mitchell Chapman, 5. Dean Mumm [c], 4. Dave Dennis, 3. Salesi Ma afu, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Sekope Kepu. RESERVES: 16. Pek Cowan, 17. Matt Dunning, 18. Mark Chisholm, 19. Wycliff Palu, 20. Richard Kingi, 21. Matt Toomua, 22. James O Connor. Australia 36 (Drew Mitchell 2, Ryan Cross, Tyrone Smith, Quade Cooper tries; Quade Cooper 4 cons, pen) d Gloucester 5 (Freddie Burns). Lansdowne Cup IRELAND V AUSTRALIA Saturday 14 November 2009 Croke Park, Dublin IRE 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Peter Hynes, 13. Digby Ioane, 12. Quade Cooper, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Will Genia; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. David Pocock, 6. Rocky Elsom [c]; 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. James Horwill; 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Matt Dunning^, 18. Dean Mumm^, 19. George Smith, 20. Luke Burgess^, 21. Ryan Cross^, 22. James O Connor. Ireland 20 (Tommy Bowe, Brian O Driscoll tries; Ronan O Gara 2 cons, 2 pens) drew with Australia 20 (Drew Mitchell, Rocky Elsom tries; Matt Giteau 2 cons, 2 pens). Uncapped International CARDIFF BLUES V AUSTRALIA Tuesday 24 November 2009 Cardiff City Stadium WAL 15. James O Connor, 14. Lachie Turner, 13. Ryan Cross, 12. Tyrone Smith, 11. Kurtley Beale, 10. Matt Toomua, 9. Luke Burgess, 8. Richard Brown, 7. Matt Hodgson, 6. Mitchell Chapman, 5. Dean Mumm [c], 4. Dave Dennis, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Pek Cowan. RESERVES: 16. Salesi Ma afu, 17. Matt Dunning, 18. Mark Chisholm, 19. George Smith, 20. Richard Kingi, 21. Quade Cooper, 22. Luke Morahan. Australia 31 (Kurtley Beale 2, Ryan Cross, Luke Morahan tries; James O Connor 4 cons, pen) d Cardiff Blues 3 (Ben Blair pen). Matt Dunning attempts to charge down Gloucester s Carlos Spencer. (Getty Images) Cook Cup ENGLAND V AUSTRALIA Saturday 7 November 2009 Twickenham, London ENG 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Peter Hynes, 13. Digby Ioane, 12. Quade Cooper, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Will Genia; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. George Smith, 6. Rocky Elsom [c]; 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. James Horwill; 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Matt Dunning, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. David Pocock, 20. Luke Burgess^, 21. Ryan Cross, 22. James O Connor^. Australia 18 (Will Genia, Adam Ashley- Cooper tries; Matt Giteau 2 pens, con) d England 9 (Jonny Wilkinson 2 pens, drop) NSW recruit scores at Croke Park. (Getty Images) Hopetoun Cup SCOTLAND V AUSTRALIA Saturday 21 November 2009 Murrayfield, Edinburgh SCO 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Peter Hynes, 13. Ryan Cross, 12. Quade Cooper, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Will Genia; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. George Smith, 6. Rocky Elsom [c]; 5. Mark Chisholm, 4. James Horwill; 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Sekope Kepu, 18. Dean Mumm, 19. Richard Brown, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Lachie Turner^, 22. James O Connor. Scotland 9 (Phil Godman 2 pens, Chris Paterson drop) d Australia 8 (Ryan Cross try; Matt Giteau pen). Dave Dennis cracks the Cardiff line. (Getty Images) James Bevan Trophy WALES V AUSTRALIA Saturday 28 November 2009 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff WAL 15. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14. Peter Hynes, 13. Digby Ioane, 12. Quade Cooper, 11. Drew Mitchell; 10. Matt Giteau, 9. Will Genia; 8. Wycliff Palu, 7. David Pocock, 6. Rocky Elsom [c]; 5. Dean Mumm, 4. James Horwill; 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Benn Robinson. RESERVES: 16. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17. Matt Dunning, 18. Mark Chisholm, 19. George Smith, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. James O Connor, 22. Kurtley Beale*. Australia 33 (Digby Ioane, James Horwill, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau tries; Matt Giteau 3 pens, 2 cons) d Wales 12 (Stephen Jones 3 pens, Leigh Halfpenny pen). Former Waratah Rocky Elsom holds aloft the Cook Cup. (Getty Images) Wycliff Palu tests the Scottish defence. (Getty Images) Kurtley Beale celebrates his Test debut with national coach Robbie Deans and the James Bevan Trophy. (Getty Images) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 33

36 2009 National Team Results Ben Coridas finds space at the Sevens World Cup. (Getty Images) Ben McCalman is wrapped by Fiji in Edinburgh. (Getty Images) 2008/09 AUSTRALIAN SEVENS REPRESENTATIVES Peter Betham (Sydney University), Willie Bishop (Warringah), Will Brock (Eastern Suburbs), Ben Coridas (Eastwood/HSBC Junior Waratahs), Francis Fainifo (Randwick), Shaun Foley (Randwick), Dane Haylett-Petty (Gordon), Stanley Hokafonu (Southern Districts), Ed Jenkins (Sydney University), Jono Jenkins (Sydney University), Ben McCalman (Sydney University/HSBC Junior Waratahs), Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University/HSBC Waratahs), Ben Mowen (Randwick/HSBC Waratahs), Brian Sefanaia (Manly), Clinton Sills (Sydney University), Afusipa Taumoepeau (Eastern Suburbs), Henry Vanderglas (Randwick), Tim Walsh (Randwick) 2008/09 IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES Tournament November 2008 The Sevens, Dubai UAE Pool A Australia 21 d Zimbabwe 12 Australia 22 d Wales 17 New Zealand 33 d Australia 7 Cup Quarter- Final South Africa 19 d Australia 0 Plate Semi-Final Samoa 17 d Australia /09 IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES Tournament December 2008 Outeniqua Park Stadium, George RSA Pool B Australia 26 d Georgia 5 USA 28 d Australia 26 South Africa 17 d Australia 7 Bowl Quarter-Final Australia 33 d Tunisia 21 Bowl Final France 21 d Australia /09 IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES Tournament February 2009 Westpac Stadium, Wellington NZL Pool B Australia 22 d Niue 17 Australia 24 d Wales 15 New Zealand 26 d Australia 19 Bowl Quarter-Final Australia 22 d Scotland 12 Bowl Semi-Final Cook Islands 28 d Australia /09 IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES Tournament February 2009 PETCO Park, San Diego USA Pool A Australia 35 d Canada 7 USA 17 d Australia 12 South Africa 22 d Australia 7 Bowl Quarter-Final Australia 27 d Uruguay 10 Bowl Semi-Final Australia 26 d Wales 24 Bowl Final Australia 40 d France /09 IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES Tournament March 2009 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong CHN Pool C Australia 33 d Zimbabwe 5 Australia 56 d Sri Lanka 12 New Zealand 17 d Australia 5 Cup Quarter-Final South Africa 24 d Australia /09 IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES Tournament April 2009 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide AUS Pool A Australia 21 d England 17 Australia 26 d Samoa 19 Australia 31 d Portugal 5 Cup Quarter-Final Argentina 12 d Australia 5 Plate Semi-Final Australia 38 d Wales 7 Plate Final England 24 d Australia /09 IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES Tournament May 2009 Twickenham, London ENG Pool A Australia 50 d Germany 0 Australia 31 d Wales 21 South Africa 17 d Australia 14 Cup Quarter-Final England 26 d Australia 12 Plate Semi-Final Portugal 19 d Australia 10 Pat McCutcheon hangs on against South Africa in Edinburgh. (Getty Images) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

37 2009 National Team Results 2008/09 IRB SEVENS WORLD SERIES Tournament May 2009 Murrayfield, Edinburgh SCO Pool B Australia 24 d Spain 7 Australia 29 d Portugal 0 Fiji 26 d Australia 19 Cup Quarter-Final South Africa 17 d Australia 7 Plate Semi-Final Australia 26 d Samoa 14 Plate Final New Zealand 34 d Australia IRB RUGBY WORLD CUP SEVENS 5-7 March 2009 The Sevens, Dubai UAE Pool D Australia 24 d Portugal 12 Ireland 24 d Australia 21 Samoa 19 d Australia 0 Plate Quarter-Final Australia 24 d USA 14 Plate Semi-Final Australia 22 d Tonga 19 Plate Final Scotland 21 d Australia AUSTRALIAN WALLAROOS REPRESENTATIVES Nicole Beck (Warringah/Sydney), Dalena Dennison (Warringah/Sydney), Alexandra Hargreaves (Sydney University), Danielle Meskell (Warringah/Sydney), Cobie-Jane Morgan (Warringah/Sydney), Tui Ormsby (Warringah/Sydney), Kylie Pennell (Narromine/ NSW Country), Kate Porter (Australian Services), Chris Ross (Warringah/Sydney), Ruan Sims (Warringah/Sydney), Cheryl Soon [c] (Warringah/Sydney), Rebecca Trethowan (Narromine/NSW Country) IRB Women s Rugby World Cup Oceania Qualifier Australia 87 d Samoa 0 at Apia Park, Apia. [8/8/09] 2009 AUSTRALIAN WOMEN S SEVENS REPRESENTATIVES Nicole Beck (Warringah/Sydney), Bo de la Cruz (NSW), Alex Hargreaves (Sydney University/Sydney), Tobie McGann (University of Newcastle/NSW Country), Tui Ormsby (Warringah/Sydney), Ruan Sims (Waverley/ Sydney), Cheryl Soon [c] (Warringah/Sydney) 2009 IRB RUGBY WORLD CUP SEVENS 6-7 March 2009 The Sevens, Dubai UAE Pool A Australia 50 d China 12 France 14 d Australia 10 Australia 36 d Netherlands 0 Cup Quarter-Final Australia 17 d England 10 Cup Semi-Final Australia 19 d South Africa 10 Cup Final Australia 15 d New Zealand AUSTRALIA U20 REPRESENTATIVES Kurtley Beale (Northern Suburbs/HSBC Waratahs), Corey Brown (Northern Suburbs), Nathan Charles (Sydney University), Kane Douglas (Southern Districts/HSBC Junior Waratahs), Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood/ HSBC Waratahs), Dane Haylett-Petty (Gordon), Rob Horne (Southern Districts/HSBC Waratahs), Sam Latunipulu (Northern Suburbs), David McDuling (Sydney University), Afusipa Taumoepeau (Eastern Suburbs), Matt Toomua (Eastern Suburbs), Ben Whittaker (Gordon) IRB Junior World Championship Pool D Australia 86 d Canada 0 at Best Amenity Stadium, Saga. [5/6/09] Pool D Tonga 40 d Tonga 6 at Best Amenity Stadium, Saga. [9/6/09] Pool D Australia 38 d Wales 5 at Best Amenity Stadium, Saga. [13/6/09] Semi-Final New Zealand 31 d Australia 17 at Prince Chichibu Stadium, Tokyo. [17/6/09] Third Place Playoff South Africa 32 d Australia 5 at Prince Chichibu Stadium, Tokyo. [21/6/09] 2009 AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS REPRESENTATIVES Tyson Frizell (Illawarra Sports High School), Marcus Heather (Endeavour Sports High School), Luke Jones (St Pius X College), Tom Kingston (St Aloysius College), Greg Peterson (The Scots College), Hugh Roach (Newington College), Scott Sio (Trinity Grammar School), Nic Stirzaker (Knox Grammar School), Joe Welsh (St Ignatius College, Riverview), Jacob Woodhouse (The Scots College). Nicole Beck flies high in the Rugby World Cup Sevens Final. (Getty Images) Australian U20 captain Damien Fitzpatrick pokes through the line. (Getty Images) 2009 Australian Schools Capped Internationals Australian Schools 83 d Tonga 18 at St Ignatius College, Riverview [26/9/09] New Zealand Schools 28 d Australian Schools 24 at Ballymore, Brisbane [9/10/09] Ireland U19 15 d Australian Schools 0 at Cork Institute of Technology IRE [2/12/09] Australian Schools 10 d Wales U19 6 at Colwyn Bay WAL [5/12/09] England U19 30 d Australian Schools 28 at Sale ENG [13/12/09] 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 35

38 NSW Rugby Union Premiership Results TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD ELIMINATION SEMIFINALS September 2009 Gordon 27 (Matt McDougall 2, Dave Harvey, Mark Preston tries; Dave Harvey 2 cons, pen) d Warringah 10 (Luke Holmes try; Brett Sheehan con, pen) at Pittwater Rugby Park. Referee: Steve Walsh. HT: 3-all. Eastwood 32 (Cameron Mitchell 2, Tim Bennetts, Sione Piukala tries; James Foote 3 cons, 2 pens) d Manly 21 (Brian Sefanaia, Eddie Aholelei, Cristobal Westenenk tries; Adam D Arcy 3 cons) at Forshaw Rugby Park. Referee: Nathan Pearce. HT: Manly PRELIMINARY FINALS September 2009 Sydney University 37 (Daniel Halangahu, Tim Davidson, Mitch Inman, Ben McCalman, Tom Carter tries; Daniel Halangahu 2 cons, 2 pens) d Eastwood 13 (Damien Fitzpatrick, Lachlan McCaffrey try; James Foote pen) at Concord Oval. Referee: Steve Walsh. HT: Sydney University Randwick 53 (Francis Fainifo 2, Marshall Milroy, Henry Vanderglas, Shaun Foley, Stephen Hoiles tries; Marshall Milroy 3 cons, 2 pens, Tim Walsh 3 drop, con) d Gordon 32 (Matt McDougall, Mark Preston, Dane Haylett-Petty, Chris Alcock tries; Dave Harvey 3 cons, 2 pens) at Woollahra Oval. Referee: Stuart Dickinson. HT: Randwick TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD GRAND FINAL 27 September 2009 Sydney Football Stadium Sydney University 24 (Nathan Charles, Nick Edwards, Mitch Inman tries; Daniel Halangahu 2 cons, drop) d Randwick 19 (Drew Mitchell, Marshall Milroy tries; Marshall Milroy 3 pens) at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: Stuart Dickinson. HT: Sydney University COLIN CAIRD SHIELD (2nd grade) Elimination Semi-Finals September 2009 Randwick 47 d Eastwood 17 at Pittwater Rugby Park Eastern Suburbs 48 d Manly 29 at Forshaw Rugby Park Preliminary Finals September 2009 Eastern Suburbs 24 d Sydney University 21 at Concord Oval Gordon 45 d Randwick 17 at Woollahra Oval Grand Final 27 September 2009 Eastern Suburbs 32 d Gordon 19 at Sydney Football Stadium JR HENDERSON SHIELD (3rd Grade) Elimination Semi-Finals September 2009 Warringah 11 d Eastern Suburbs 6 at Pittwater Rugby Park West Harbour 14 d Manly 13 at Forshaw Rugby Park Preliminary Finals September 2009 Gordon 8 d West Harbour 6 at Concord Oval Sydney University 27 d Warringah 13 at Woollahra Oval Grand Final 27 September 2009 Gordon 6 d Sydney University 3 at Sydney Football Stadium JR HENDERSON CUP (4th Grade) Elimination Semi-Finals September 2009 Sydney University 28 d Warringah 15 at Pittwater Rugby Park Gordon 44 d Manly 22 at Forshaw Rugby Park Preliminary Finals September 2009 Randwick 24 d Gordon 8 at Concord Oval West Harbour 31 d Sydney University 3 at Woollahra Oval Grand Final 27 September 2009 Randwick 20 d West Harbour 19 at Sydney Football Stadium W.MCMAHON MEMORIAL TROPHY (Colts I) Elimination Semi-Finals September 2009 Southern Districts 48 d Northern Suburbs 25 at Woollahra Oval Eastern Suburbs 39 d Gordon 10 at Woollahra Oval Preliminary Finals September 2009 Sydney University 41 d Eastern Suburbs 22 at Woollahra Oval Southern Districts 29 d Manly 17 at Forshaw Rugby Park Grand Final 26 September 2009 Sydney University 32 d Southern Districts 18 at Concord Oval SHELL TROPHY (Colts II) Elimination Semi-Finals September 2009 Gordon 27 d Manly 17 at Woollahra Oval West Harbour 31 d Eastwood 8 at Woollahra Oval Preliminary Finals September 2009 Sydney University 39 d West Harbour 14 at Woollahra Oval Eastern Suburbs 14 d Gordon 5 at Forshaw Rugby Park Grand Final 26 September 2009 Sydney University 17 d Eastern Suburbs 16 at Concord Oval COLTS III Elimination Semi-Finals September 2009 Gordon 59 d Manly 12 Sydney University 50 d West Harbour 7 at Woollahra Oval West Harbour 28 d Randwick 13 at Woollahra Oval Preliminary Finals September 2009 Sydney University 50 d West Harbour 7 at Woollahra Oval Gordon 26 d Eastern Suburbs 20 at Forshaw Rugby Park Grand Final 26 September 2009 Gordon 19 d Sydney University 17 at Concord Oval Tom Carter, Skins Man of the Match in the 2009 Grand Final (seiserphotography.com) NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

39 Nsw Rugby Union Competition Ladders 2009 INVESTEC SUPER 14 Team P W D L F A +/- BP PTS Bulls Chiefs Hurricanes Crusaders HSBC Waratahs Sharks Brumbies Western Force Blues Stormers Highlanders Lions Qld Reds Cheetahs NSW PREMIERSHIP RUGBY TOOHEYS NEW SHUTE SHIELD - FIRST GRADE Team P W D L F A +/- BP PTS Sydney Uni Randwick Gordon Manly Eastwood Warringah Eastern Sub West Harbour Southern Dist Northern Sub Parramatta Penrith COLIN CAIRD SHIELD - SECOND GRADE Team P W D L F A +/- BP PTS Sydney Uni Gordon Randwick Eastern Sub Manly Eastwood West Harbour Warringah Southern Dist Northern Sub Penrith Parramatta JR HENDERSON SHIELD - THIRD GRADE Team P W D L F A +/- BP PTS Gordon Sydney Uni Warringah West Harbour Manly Eastern Sub Randwick Northern Sub Southern Dist Eastwood Penrith Parramatta HENDERSON CUP - FOURTH GRADE Team P W Bye D L F A % PTS Randwick West Harbour Sydney Uni Gordon Manly Warringah Eastern Sub Northern Sub Eastwood Southern Dist Penrith Parramatta* * withdrew from competition after Round 7 W.MCMAHON MEMORIAL TROPHY - Colts I Team P W Bye D L F A % PTS Sydney Uni* Manly Southern Dist Gordon Eastern Sub Northern Sub Warringah* West Harbour Eastwood Randwick * lost 4 points for rule breach SHELL TROPHY - Colts II Team P W Bye D L F A % PTS Sydney Uni Eastern Sub Gordon West Harbour Eastwood Manly Northern Sub Randwick Southern Dist Parramatta Warringah* Penrith * lost 4 points for rule breach Second Grade Premiers, Eastern Suburbs. (seiserphotography.com) COLTS III Team P W Bye D L F A % PTS Sydney Uni Eastern Sub Gordon Randwick West Harbour Manly Warringah^ Northern Sub Parramatta Eastwood* Southern Dist Penrith ^ lost 2 points for forfeit * lost 6 points for rule breach GREGOR GEORGE CUP - Club Championship Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th C1 C2 C3 PTS Sydney Uni Gordon Manly Randwick Eastern Suburbs West Harbour Warringah Eastwood Southern Dist Northern Sub Penrith Parramatta* * lost 24 club championship points due to forfeits ERIC SPILSTED MEMORIAL SHIELD Colts Club Championship Team C1 C2 C3 PTS Sydney University Eastern Suburbs Gordon Manly southern Districts West Harbour Northern Suburbs Eastwood Randwick Warringah Parramatta Penrith Third Grade Premiers, Gordon. (seiserphotography.com) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 37

40 NSW Suburban and Country Results 2009 NSW SUBURBAN RUGBY UNION GRAND FINALS DIVISION ONE Saturday 19 September T.G. Millner Field, Eastwood KENTWELL CUP (1st Grade) Knox Old Boys 30 St Patricks 17 BURKE CUP (2nd Grade) Mosman 17 Beecroft 6 WHIDDON CUP (3rd Grade) Colleagues 11 St Patricks 6 JUDD CUP (4th Grade) Old Ignatians 57 Mosman 7 SUTHERLAND CUP (5th Grade) Campbelltown 8 Mosman 3 BARBOUR CUP (Colts) Knox Old Boys 20 Mosman 15 BRUCE GRAHAM SHIELD (Club Championship) Knox Old Boys DIVISION TWO Saturday 12 September T.G. Millner Field, Eastwood BARRACLOUGH CUP (1st Grade) Barker Old Boys 20 University of NSW 19 STOCKDALE CUP (2nd Grade) St Ives 22 Lindfield 18 BLUNT CUP (3rd Grade) Hornsby 19 Lindfield 19 RICHARDSON CUP (4th Grade) Waverley 22 University of NSW 5 ROBERTSON CUP (Colts) Hornsby 15 Barker Old Boys 10 RELIANCE SHIELD (Club Championship) Lindfield DIVISION THREE Saturday 12 September Granville Park CLARK CUP (1st Grade) Merrylands 13 Hunters Hill 12 FARRANT CUP (2nd Grade) Petersham 23 Hunters Hill 0 CAMPBELL CUP (3rd Grade) Merrylands 23 Hunters Hill 21 NICHOLSON CUP (4th Grade) Merrylands 10 Hunters Hill 5 KEITH DOC HARRIS SHIELD (Club Championship) Hunters Hill DIVISION FIVE Saturday 5 September T.G. Millner Field JEFFREY CUP (1st Grade) Rouse Hill 38 Rockdale 17 NOICE CUP (2nd Grade) Liverpool 32 St George 17 DAVID SWAN SHIELD (Club Championship) Rouse Hill DIVISION SIX Saturday 22 August David Phillips Field, Daceyville MELDRUM CUP (1st Grade) Maccabi 24 Manly Savers NSW COUNTRY RUGBY UNION GRAND FINALS CENTRAL COAST Saturday 12 September Woy Woy Oval PATRONS SHIELD (1st Grade) Avoca Beach 31 Kariong 10 2ND GRADE Kariong 25 Terrigal 18 3RD GRADE Terrigal 6 Ourimbah 5 COLTS Avoca Beach 22 Warnervale 8 CENTRAL NORTH Saturday 12 September Ken Chillingsworth Oval, Tamworth HEATH SHIELD (1st Grade) Pirates 33 Narrabri 13 2ND GRADE Walcha 15 Pirates 10 COLTS Pirates 17 Narrabri 10 UNDER 17 Tamworth 16 Quirindi 10 CENTRAL WEST Saturday 12 September Cale Oval, Narromine BLOWES MENSWEAR CUP (1st Grade) Narromine 42 Bathurst 17 2ND GRADE Bathurst 34 CSU Bathurst 15 3RD GRADE CSU Bathurst 31 Orange Emus 19 COLTS Orange Emus 14 CSU Bathurst 8 WOMEN Narromine 24 Dubbo Rhinos 12 FAR NORTH COAST Saturday 12 September Crozier Field, Lismore BRUCE JUDD MEMORIAL SHIELD (1st Grade) Lennox Head 28 Lismore 19 2ND GRADE Ballina 39 Lismore 7 3RD GRADE Ballina 15 Lismore 6 COLTS Lismore 13 Wollongbar Alstonville 5 PRESIDENT S CUP Bangalow 10 Yamba 8 ILLAWARRA Saturday 19 September WIN Stadium, Wollongong ILLAWARRA CREDIT UNION SHIELD (1st Grade) Tech Waratahs 19 Avondale 14 2ND GRADE Camden 14 Vincentia 7 3RD GRADE Shamrocks 12 University of Wollongong 10 MID NORTH COAST Northern Competition Saturday 5 September Coffs Harbour Rugby Park NORTHERN SHIELD (1st Grade) Coffs Harbour Breakers 17 Coffs Harbour Crushers 13 PRESIDENT S CUP South West Rocks 26 Kempsey 12 COLTS Kempsey 20 Port Macquarie 14 MID NORTH COAST Southern Competition Saturday 29 August Old Bar Reserve, Old Bar SOUTHERN CUP (1st Grade) Old Bar Beach 29 Forster-Tuncurry 22 NEW ENGLAND Saturday 15 September Bellevue Oval, Armidale WILLIAM SAWYER SHIELD (1st Grade) St Alberts College 37 Armidale 12 2ND GRADE St Alberts College 24 Glen Innes 16 3RD GRADE St Alberts College 25 Robb College 7 NEWCASTLE HUNTER Saturday 19 September No.1 & No.2 Sports Grounds, Newcastle BERT LIGHT MEMORIAL TROPHY (1st Grade) Merewether Carlton 21 Wanderers 20 2ND GRADE Merewether Carlton 22 Hamilton 13 A GRADE Merewether Carlton 7 Pokolbin 3 B GRADE Merewether Carlton 30 Wanderers 8 C GRADE Cooks Hill 22 Merewether Carlton 10 COLTS Merewether Carlton 24 University of Newcastle 7 WOMEN (Saturday 12 September) Wanderers 19 Merewether Carlton 15 WESTERN PLAINS Saturday 12 September Coonamble Oval, Coonamble LLOYD BULLOCK MEMORIAL TROPHY (1st Grade) Coonamble 21 Bourke 12 2ND GRADE Walgett 48 Bourke SYDNEY WOMEN RUGBY UNION GRAND FINAL Saturday 25 July T.G. Millner Field JACK SCOTT MEMORIAL TROPHY Warringah 36 Sydney University NSWRU UNDER 85KG GRAND FINAL Wednesday 22 July Rawson Park, Mosman Mosman 27 Lloyd McDermott Development Team NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

41 Financial Report NEW SOUTH WALES RUGBY UNION LIMITED ABN DECEMBER 2009 Contents Page Directors report 40 Auditor s Independence Declaration 44 Financial report 45 Directors declaration 62 Independent audit report to the members 63 Pro-forma income statements NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 39

42 Financial Report Directors Report 31 DECEMBER 2009 Your directors present their report on New South Wales Rugby Union Limited for the fourteen months ended 31 December Directors The following persons were directors of New South Wales Rugby Union Limited during the whole of the financial period and up to the date of this report: Edwin Zemancheff (Chairman) Will Jephcott Sally Loane Jim L Estrange Christopher Birch Bruce Worboys (appointed 28 October 2009) Paul Timmins (appointed 28 October 2009) John Spana (appointed 9 December 2009) Alastair Baxter (appointed 28 October 2009) Principal activities The principal continuing activities of the Company during the course of the fourteen month period ended 31 December 2009 were the organisation and promotion of the game of rugby union in the State of New South Wales and the business operations and management of a professional rugby union team. Review of operations The loss from continuing operations of the Company was: 14 months to 12 months to 12 months to 31 December 31 October 31 October $ $ $ Loss from continuing operations (1,883,767) (459,248) (295,304) The continuing viability of the Company and its ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debts and commitments as they fall due are dependent upon the Company being successful in: a) receiving the continuing support of its members and the constituent bodies; b) achieving sufficient future cash flows to enable its obligations to be met; c) success of the Waratahs in retaining and attracting new membership, sponsorship and other revenues associated with participation in Super Rugby competitions. The Board is committed to continuous monitoring of these factors and any impacts on the future projected cash flows. The Board is also committed to a long term strategy to effectively manage the Company s debt levels, and to effectively manage and maintain a sustainable working capital balance NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

43 Financial Report Directors Report 31 DECEMBER 2009 Significant changes in the state of affairs During the period, the Company changed its financial year from 31 October to 31 December. Accordingly, the financial performance and cash flows of the Company for 2009 represent the fourteen month period from 1 November 2008 to 31 December Attached at the end of this Annual Report is a pro-forma income statement that provides a comparison of the 12 month period to 31 October 2009 with the corresponding period of the previous financial year, and the results of the 2 month period to December 2009 being the extended period of the newly adopted financial year. During the period, the New South Wales Rugby Union Ltd (NSWRU) board resolved to restructure the manner in which community and professional rugby are administered in NSW via the following initiatives: (a) The merging of the Development department of NSWRU with the Australian Rugby Union with a view to delivering a more aligned and focussed effort on the development of rugby at the community level. This move had no material financial impact on the operations of the Company. (b) The creation of NSW Waratahs Limited (WL) - a separately constituted and governed body, charged with the sole responsibility for administering all aspects of professional rugby in NSW. The voting members of WL, and two of seven directors, are appointed by NSWRU and accordingly the two legal entities are under common control. NSWRU has issued a licence to WL to conduct all the activities of administering professional rugby in NSW under the Waratahs brand. The ownership of intellectual property in the Waratahs remains vested with NSWRU. As a result, all contracts, agreements and other relationships pertaining to the operating of the Waratahs professional rugby business have been assigned to WL under licence. In addition, any assets and liabilities pertaining to the operation of the Waratahs at January 2010 have been transferred to WL and will be accounted for in accordance with the principles of predecessor accounting, which is applicable for entities under common control. Given the common control of the two legal entities, the assignment of the Waratahs activities was non-arms length and no consideration was paid or is payable. NSWRU will continue to control and administer the game of rugby in NSW at the community level, principally via competition administration and affiliate support. These operations will be funded by the payment of a licence fee from WL to NSWRU for the granting of the licence to use Waratahs intellectual property. To provide members with information regarding the financial impacts of this corporate restructure a pro-forma income statement (statement 2) has been prepared and attached to this annual report. The pro-forma income statement reflects the trading activities of NSWRU and WL for the twelve months ended 31 October 2009, as if the corporate restructure had taken place on 1 November The pro-forma attachment is provided for information purposes only. Except for the matters above, there were no other significant changes in the state of affairs of the Company during the financial year. Matters subsequent to the end of the financial year Except for the disclosures noted above, there are no matters or circumstances that have arisen since 31 December 2009 that have significantly affected, or may significantly affect: (a) the Company s operations in future financial years, or (b) the results of those operations in future financial years, or (c) the Company s state of affairs in future financial years. Likely developments and expected results of operations Further information on likely developments in the operations of the Company and the expected results of operations have not been included in this annual report because the directors believe it would be likely to result in unreasonable prejudice to the Company. Background information Edwin Zemancheff - Chairman Non-aligned director. Appointed to the Board in March Former Partner, Baker & McKenzie Solicitors. Former Waratah team manager. Foundation Board member Australian Rugby Football Schools Union. Member of the NSWRU Waratah Advisory Committee. Appointed Chairman November Will Jephcott Non-aligned director. Appointed to the Board in June Played rugby for the Gordon Rugby Club and represented Sydney and NSW. Investment banker with Gresham Partners Limited and deputy Chairman of ROC Oil Company Limited. Previously, Vice Chairman, Investment Banking Group for Merrill Lynch International (Australia) Limited, non-executive Chairman of Engin Limited and a director of Parbury Limited. Member of the NSWRU Board Audit & Finance Committee. Sally Loane Non-aligned director. Appointed to the Board in November Director of Media and Public Affairs, Coca-Cola Amatil. Former news and political journalist, in print, television and radio. Former ABC broadcaster. Member of the NSWRU Waratah Advisory Committee NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 41

44 Financial Report Directors Report 31 DECEMBER 2009 Jim L Estrange Executive Director & CEO. Appointed to the Board July Formerly CEO for 3 years of Star City Casino and hotel, and prior to those 7 years in senior management positions at Westpac. Member of the NSWRU Waratah Advisory Committee. Christopher Birch New South Wales Championship Clubs appointed Director. Appointed to the Board in June Former President of Warringah Rugby Club. Bruce Worboys New South Wales Country Rugby Union appointed director. Appointed to the Board in October President/Chairman of NSW Country Rugby Union, CEO of MBT Legal and Financial Services Group Coffs Harbour, background in Banking Operations, Human Resources and Sports Administration. Paul Timmins NSW Suburban Rugby Union appointed director. Appointed to the Board in October Chairman of NSW Suburban Rugby Union Board and member of that Board since Honorary Life member and former President of Old Ignatians Rugby Football Club. Managing Director of UXC Getronics Australia. Member of NSWRU Board Audit & Finance Committee. John Spana Youth Rugby appointed director. Appointed to the Board in December Member of the NSWRU Audit & Finance Committee. Alastair Baxter Rugby Union Players Association appointed director. Appointed to the Board in October Architect with Cox Richardson Architects. Director of the Rugby Union Players Association. Waratah and Wallaby representative player. Todd Day (Company Secretary) Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary. Appointed April Chartered Accountant with previous experience within the television industry and public practice. Meetings of directors The number of meetings of the company s board of directors held during the year ended 31 December 2009, and the numbers of meetings attended by each director were: Full meetings of directors Edwin Zemancheff Will Jephcott 9 11 Sally Loane 9 11 Jim L Estrange Christopher Birch Laurie Maher 9 10 Bruce Worboys 2 2 Ian Ross Paul Timmins 2 2 Geoff Garland 7 7 John Spana 1 1 Matthew Dunning 5 10 Arvid Petersen 7 7 A = Number of meetings attended B = Number of meetings held during the time the director held office Insurance of officers During the financial year, New South Wales Rugby Union Limited paid a premium of $17,860 to insure the directors and officers of the company and related entities. A B NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

45 Financial Report Directors Report 31 DECEMBER 2009 Proceedings on behalf of the company No proceedings have been brought or intervened in on behalf of the company with leave of the Court under section 237 of the Corporations Act Auditor s independence declaration A copy of the auditor s independence declaration as required under section 307C of the Corporations Act 2001 is set out on page 44. Rounding The company is of a kind referred to in Class Order 98/100, issued by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, relating to the rounding off of amounts in the director s report. Amounts in the directors report have been rounded off in accordance with that Class Order to the nearest thousand dollars, or in certain cases, to the nearest dollar. Auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers continues in office in accordance with section 327 of the Corporations Act This report is made in accordance with a resolution of directors. Jim L Estrange Sydney Director 18 March NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 43

46 Financial Report Auditor s Independence Declaration 31 DECEMBER 2009 Auditor s Independence Declaration PricewaterhouseCoopers ABN Darling Park Tower Sussex Street GPO BOX 2650 SYDNEY NSW 1171 DX 77 Sydney Australia Telephone Facsimile As lead auditor for the audit of New South Wales Rugby Union Limited for the fourteen months ended 31 December 2009, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, there have been: (a) no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 in relation to the audit; and (b) no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit. S Bosiljevac Sydney Partner 18 March 2010 PricewaterhouseCoopers NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

47 Financial Report NEW SOUTH WALES RUGBY UNION LIMITED ABN DECEMBER 2009 Contents Financial report Statement of comprehensive income 46 Statement of financial position 47 Statement of changes in equity 48 Cash flow statement 49 Notes to the financial statements 50 Directors declaration 62 Independent audit report to the members 63 This financial report covers both New South Wales Rugby Union Limited as an individual entity. The financial report is presented in the Australian currency. New South Wales Rugby Union Limited is a company limited by guarantee, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. Its registered office and principal place of business is: New South Wales Rugby Union Limited Gold Members Car Park Sydney Football Stadium Driver Avenue MOORE PARK NSW 2021 A description of the nature of the Company s operations and its principal activities is included in the directors report on pages 40-43, which is not part of this financial report. The financial report was authorised for issue by the directors on 18 March The company has the power to amend and reissue the financial report. Page 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 45

48 Financial Report STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME STATEMENT FOR the fourteen months 31 ended October 31 DECEMBER months to 31 December months to 31 October 2008 Notes $ $ Revenue from continuing operations 3 21,101,129 25,884,892 Professional rugby costs Waratahs - Waratahs team costs (11,463,733) (12,052,449) - Match day costs (1,640,437) (2,189,003) - Sponsor costs (1,061,199) (1,242,091) - Marketing costs (933,047) (1,156,011) - Marketing costs (contra) (388,688) (385,000) - Membership costs (328,238) (397,754) - Commercial & Operations costs (1,175,970) (1,399,098) Premiership Rugby (2,128,038) (1,739,187) Community Rugby (1,529,383) (2,741,088) Corporate (2,310,570) (2,847,389) Finance costs 4 (25,593) (31,126) Net loss (1,883,767) (295,304) Other comprehensive income for the year - - Total comprehensive loss for the year (1,883,767) (295,304) The above statement of comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

49 Financial Report STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 31 DECEMBER Notes $ $ ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 5 3,337,081 2,886,430 Trade and other receivables 6 3,555,641 2,883,241 Total current assets 6,892,722 5,769,671 Non current assets Property, plant and equipment 7 3,228,563 3,694,378 Total non current assets 3,228,563 3,694,378 Total assets 10,121,285 9,464,049 LIABILITIES Current liabilities Trade and other payables 8 1,895,903 2,720,099 Borrowings 9 131, ,416 Provisions ,689 45,209 Deferred income 11 5,587,350 2,478,597 Total current liabilities 7,753,166 5,367,321 Non current liabilities Borrowings , ,570 Deferred income 13 1,000,000 1,000,000 Provisions , ,794 Total non current liabilities 1,666,522 1,511,364 Total liabilities 9,419,688 6,878,685 Net assets 701,597 2,585,364 EQUITY Accumulated surplus ,597 2,585,364 Total equity 701,597 2,585,364 The above statement of financial position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 47

50 Financial Report STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR the fourteen months ended 31 DECEMBER months to 31 December months to 31 October 2008 Notes $ $ Total equity at the beginning of the financial year 2,585,364 2,880,668 (Loss) for the year 15 (1,883,767) (295,304) Total equity at the end of the financial year 701,597 2,585,364 The above statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

51 Financial Report CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR the fourteen months ended 31 DECEMBER 2009 Cash flows from operating activities 14 months to 31 December months to 31 October 2008 Notes $ $ Cash receipts from matches, supporters, sponsors, members, etc (inclusive of GST) 25,964,978 27,833,870 Cash payments to suppliers and employees (inclusive of GST) (25,392,041) (27,286,280) 572, ,590 Interest received 84, ,186 Net cash inflow from operating activities , ,776 Cash flows from investing activities Payments for property, plant and equipment (65,277) (209,896) Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 2,727 19,853 Net cash outflow from investing activities (62,550) (190,043) Cash flows from financing activities Repayment of lease liability (144,623) (186,709) Net cash outflow from financing activities (144,623) (186,709) Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 450, ,024 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year 2,886,430 2,602,406 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 5 3,337,081 2,886,430 The above income statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 49

52 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT Contents of the notes to the financial statements Page 1 Summary of significant accounting policies 51 2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements 54 3 Revenue 55 4 Expenses 55 5 Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 56 6 Current assets Trade and other receivables 56 7 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 57 8 Current liabilities Trade and other payables 58 9 Current liabilities Borrowings Current liabilities Provisions Current liabilities Deferred income Non current liabilities Borrowings Non current liabilities Deferred income Non-current liabilities Provisions Reserves and accumulated funds Remuneration of auditors Commitments Related party transactions Reconciliation of loss after income tax to net cash inflow from operating activities Events occurring after the reporting period NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

53 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Summary of significant accounting policies The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial report are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated. (a) Basis of preparation In the directors opinion, the company is not a reporting entity because there are no users dependent on general purpose financial reports. This is a special purpose financial report that has been prepared for the sole purpose of complying with the Corporations Act 2001 requirements to prepare and distribute a financial report to the members and must not be used for any other purpose. The directors have determined that the accounting policies adopted are appropriate to meet the needs of the members. Historical cost convention The financial report is prepared in accordance with the historical cost convention. Unless otherwise stated, the accounting policies adopted are consistent with those of the previous year. Critical accounting estimates The preparation of financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements, are disclosed in note 2. These financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The expenditure in income statement has been reclassified to better present the functional nature of the company s activities. The comparative results have also been reclassified to ensure consistency. Change of year end During the year, the Company changed its financial year from 31 October to 31 December. Accordingly the financial performance and cash flow information reported reflects trading activities for the fourteen months period from 1 November 2008 to 31 December Going concern The continuing viability of the Company and its ability to continue as a going concern and meet its debts and commitments as they fall due are dependent upon the Company being successful in: a) receiving the continuing support of its members and the constituent bodies; and b) achieving sufficient future cash flows to enable its obligations to be met; and c) success in retaining and attracting new sponsorship and hospitality revenues and; d) indirectly, the performance of the Waratahs in the Super 14 competition. The Board is committed to continuous monitoring of these factors and any impacts on the projected cash flows for (b) Revenue recognition Revenue from memberships, match day tickets and grants is measured at fair value and taken to income in the period to which it relates. Revenue from sponsorship is measured at the present value on a straight line basis over the life of the contract. Interest income is recognised on a time proportion basis using the effective interest method. (c) Income tax The company is exempt from income tax in accordance with the provisions of section 23(g) of the Income Tax Assessment Act NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 51

54 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (d) Leases Leases of property, plant and equipment where the Company has substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as finance leases. Finance leases are capitalised at the lease s inception at the lower of the fair value of the leased property and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The corresponding rental obligations, net of finance charges, are included in other long-term payables. Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to the income statement over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. The property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of the asset s useful life and the lease term. Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. (e) Property, plant and equipment All property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less depreciation. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. Depreciation is calculated using the straight line method to allocate its cost or revalued amounts, net of its residual values, over its estimated useful lives, as follows: - Leasehold improvements Over the lease term (a) - Office equipment 5 years - Leased motor vehicles 5 years - Plant and equipment 10 years (a) The cost of other leasehold improvements to or on leasehold properties is amortised over the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful life of the improvement to the Company, whichever is the shorter. The assets residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date. (f) Intangible assets (i) Trademarks, licences and website costs Trademarks, licences and website costs have a finite useful life and are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and impaired losses. Amortisation is calculated using the straight line method to allocate the cost of trademarks, licences and website costs over its estimated useful lives, which vary from 3 to 5 years. (g) Impairment of assets Intangible assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for impairment, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that they might be impaired. Other assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. Inflows from other assets or groups of assets (cash generating units). Non financial assets other than goodwill that suffered an impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each reporting date. (h) Trade and other payables These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the Company prior to the end of the financial year and which are unpaid. The amounts are unsecured. (i) Borrowings Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the balance sheet date. (j) Borrowing costs Borrowing costs incurred for the construction of any qualifying asset are capitalised during the period of time that is required to complete and prepare the asset for its intended use or sale. Other borrowing costs are expensed NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

55 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (k) Provisions Provisions for legal claims are recognised when: the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events; it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation; and the amount has been reliably estimated. Provisions are not recognised for future operating losses. Where there are a number of similar obligations, the likelihood that an outflow will be required in settlement is determined by considering the class of obligations as a whole. A provision is recognised even if the likelihood of an outflow with respect to any one item included in the same class of obligations may be small. Provisions are measured at the present value of management s best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present obligation at the balance sheet date. The discount rate used to determine the present value reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the liability. (l) Employee benefits (i) Wages and salaries, annual leave and sick leave Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non monetary benefits, annual leave and accumulating sick leave expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date are recognised in other payables in respect of employees services up to the reporting date and are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled. (ii) Long service leave The liability for long service leave is recognised in the provision for employee benefits and measured as the present value of expected future payments to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date using the projected unit credit method. Consideration is given to expected future wage and salary levels, experience of employee departures and periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using market yields at the reporting date on national government bonds with terms to maturity and currency that match, as closely as possible, the estimated future cash outflows. (iii) Retirement benefit obligations All employees of the Company are entitled to benefits on retirement, disability or death from BT Lifetime Super Employer Plan or other nominated funds of those employees. The BT Lifetime Super Employer Plan is an accumulation fund, contributions being made by the economic Company at a rate of 9% (up to the maximum contribution base) of wages and salaries on behalf of the employees. The entities contributions are legally enforceable. (m) Cash and cash equivalents For cash flow statement presentation purposes, cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand, deposits held at call with financial institutions, other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities on the balance sheet. (n) Trade receivables Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost, less provision for doubtful debts. Trade receivables are due for settlement no more than 30 days from the date of recognition. Collectability of trade receivables is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Debts which are known to be uncollectible are written off. A provision for doubtful receivables is established when there is objective evidence that the Company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of receivables. The amount of the provision is the difference between the asset s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the original effective interest rate. The amount of the provision is recognised in the income statement NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 53

56 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Summary of significant accounting policies (continued) (o) Inventories (i) Consumables Consumables are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises purchase cost and delivery cost. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less the estimated costs necessary to make the sale. (p) Goods and Services Tax (GST) Revenues, expenses and assets are recognised net of the amount of associated GST, unless the GST incurred is not recoverable from the taxation authority. In this case it is recognised as part of the cost of acquisition of the asset or as part of the expense. Receivables and payables are stated inclusive of the amount of GST receivable or payable. The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the taxation authority is included with other receivables or payables in the balance sheet. Cash flows are presented on a gross basis. The GST components of cash flows arising from investing or financing activities which are recoverable from, or payable to the taxation authority, are presented as operating cash flow. (q) New accounting standards and interpretations Certain new accounting standards and interpretations have been published that are not mandatory for 31 December 2009 reporting periods. The following standards and interpretations have been issued but are not considered to have an impact on the company s financial statements: (i) AASB 1 First time adoption of Australian Accounting Standards Re-formats AASB 1 so that it now refers to Australian Accounting Standards instead of Australian equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards. No effect on New South Wales Rugby Union Ltd. (r) Deferred income Income is deferred on the balance sheet until it has been earned, at which point the deferred income is recognised as income. (s) Deferred expenditure A significant portion of the Centre of Excellence expenditure relates to a contribution made by the company to the SCG Trust for the construction and base fit out of the new premises. This base build contribution amount is being amortised over the life of the rental lease (10 years). The amortisation charge is classified within the rental expense. 2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that may have a financial impact on the Company and that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

57 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Revenue From continuing operations 14 months to 31 December months to 31 October 2008 $ $ Sponsorship 5,103,979 6,423,032 Corporate hospitality 623, ,804 Match day proceeds 3,903,194 5,810,508 Stadium rebates 2,058,602 1,500,000 Premier rugby 262, ,375 Memberships 500, ,678 Licensing 71, ,006 Coaching and development - 204,434 ARU Funding 8,359,283 10,043,078 Other grants - 70,000 Affiliation fees - 60,000 Other income 132, ,665 21,016,242 25,740,580 Other revenue Interest 84, ,312 21,101,129 25,884,892 The above income statement should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes. 4 Expenses Loss from continuing operations includes the following specific expenses: 14 months to 31 December months to 31 October 2008 $ $ Depreciation Buildings 468, ,055 Plant and equipment 296, ,649 Total depreciation 765, ,704 Amortisation Trademarks, licenses and website costs Total amortisation - 24,670-24,670 Finance costs Interest and finance charges paid/payable 25,592 31,126 Finance costs expensed 25,592 31,126 Rental expense relating to operating leases Minimum lease payments 847, ,663 Total rental expense relating to operating leases 847, ,663 Defined contribution superannuation expense 331, ,138 Net loss on sale of property, plant and equipment 11,509 5, NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 55

58 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ $ Cash at bank and in hand 2,812,406 2,367,025 Deposits at call 524, ,405 3,337,081 2,886,430 6 Current assets Trade and other receivables $ $ Trade receivables 2,852,501 2,320,609 Provision for doubtful receivables (12,225) (66,869) 2,840,276 2,253,740 Other receivables - 30,665 Prepayments 715, ,836 3,555,641 2,883,241 (a) Impaired trade receivables As at 31 December 2009, trade receivables of the Company with a nominal value of $12,225 (2008: $216,500) were impaired. The amount of the provision was $12,225 (2008: $66,869). The provision relates to many small customer balances $ $ At the beginning of the year 66, ,334 Provision for impairment recognised during the year 12,225 66,869 Receivables written off during the year as uncollectible (66,869) (56,834) Unused amounts reversed - (74,500) At the end of the year 12,225 66,869 The creation and release of the provision for impaired receivables has been included in finance and administration in the income statement. Amounts charged to the allowance account are generally written off when there is no expectation of recovering additional cash. (b) Other receivables These amounts relate to prepayments, sundry debtors and unused contra sponsorship NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

59 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Non current assets Property, plant and equipment Centre of Excellence Plant and equipment Total $ $ $ At 1 November 2007 Cost 3,548, ,535 4,475,086 Accumulated depreciation (104,102) (222,898) (327,000) Net book amount 3,444, ,637 4,148,086 Year ended 31 October 2008 Opening net book amount 3,444, ,637 4,148,086 Additions 36, , ,896 Disposals - (24,900) (24,900) Depreciation charge (383,055) (255,649) (638,704) Closing net book amount 3,097, ,463 3,694,378 At 1 November 2008 Cost 3,585,072 1,075,010 4,660,082 Accumulated depreciation (487,157) (478,547) (965,704) Net book amount 3,097, ,463 3,694,378 Year ended 31 December 2009 Opening net book amount 3,097, ,463 3,694,378 Additions - 65,277 65,277 Provision for make good 248, ,304 Written down value of disposals - (14,236) (14,236) Depreciation charge (468,595) (296,565) (765,160) Reclassifications - written down value (50,679) 50,679 - Closing net book amount 2,826, ,618 3,228,563 At 31 December 2009 Cost 3,736,217 1,163,324 4,899,541 Accumulated depreciation (909,272) (761,706) (1,670,978) Net book amount 2,826, ,618 3,228,563 a) Non-current assets subject to change $339,363 of the plant and equipment above is subject to an equitable mortgage under a financial agreement refer to Notes 9 and NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 57

60 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Current liabilities Trade and other payables $ $ Trade payables 645, ,992 Other payables 1,250,488 2,203,107 9 Current liabilities Borrowings 1,895,903 2,720, $ $ Secured Plant & equipment loans (a) 131, , , ,416 a) The plant and equipment loans were utilised to equip the new centre of excellence premises. The interest rates range from 4.54% to 9.03% and repayable in monthly instalments over a period of 5 years. 10 Current liabilities Provisions $ $ Employee benefits 138,689 45, Current liabilities Deferred income 138,689 45, $ $ Income in advance 5,587,350 2,478,597 5,587,350 2,478, NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

61 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Non-current liabilities Borrowings $ $ Secured Plant & equipment loans 208, ,570 Total secured non current borrowings 208, ,570 Plant and equipment loans are effectively secured as the rights to the leased assets recognised in the financial statement revert to the lessor in the event of default. The carrying amount of assets pledged as security for current and non-current borrowings are $339,363 (2008: $483,986). 13 Non-current liabilities Deferred income $ $ Income in advance 1,000,000 1,000,000 Income in advance relates to an upfront payment of $1,000,000 received in 2006 in relation to the contractual arrangements with ANZ Stadium. The amount will be released as it is earned from Non-current liabilities Provisions $ $ Employee benefits 188, ,794 Make-good on rental premises 270, Reserves and accumulated funds 458, ,794 Reserves Accumulated surplus $ $ Opening accumulated surplus 2,585,364 2,880,668 Net surplus for the year (1,883,767) (295,304) Balance 31 December 701,597 2,585, NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 59

62 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Remuneration of auditors During the year the following fees were paid or payable for services provided by the auditor of the Company: $ $ PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian firm Audit of financial reports and other audit work under the Corporations Act 2001 Other assurance services 43,950 60,000 PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian firm Other assurance services - 25,000 Related practices of PricewaterhouseCoopers Australian firm Liquidation services - 14,479 Total remuneration for other assurance services 43,950 39,479 Total remuneration 43,950 99, Commitments Lease commitments $ $ Commitments for minimum lease payments in relation to non cancellable operating leases are payable as follows: Within one year 785, ,120 Later than one year but not later than five years 2,550,511 3,274,534 Commitments not recognised in the financial statements 3,336,138 4,018,654 Commitments in relation to finance leases are payable as follows: Within one year 131, ,416 Later than one year but not later than five years 208, ,185 Minimum lease payments 339, ,601 Future finance charges 23,647 47,525 Recognised as a liability 363, ,126 Representing lease liabilities: Current 146, ,042 Non current 216, , , ,126 Contractual commitments Commitments for the payment of salaries and other remuneration under long-term employment contracts in existence at the reporting date but not recognised as liabilities, payable: Within one year 4,739,144 5,204,165 Later than one year and not later than five years 3,008,200 4,100,193 7,747,344 9,304,358 With the creation of NSW Waratahs Ltd, commitments under long term employment contracts will be assigned to that company with effect from 1 January NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

63 Financial Report NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 31 DECEMBER Related party transactions (a) Rugby Shared Services Pty Ltd During the period the company purchased a $1 share in the entity Rugby Shared Services Pty Ltd, which constitutes a 50% shareholding. (b) Australian Rugby Union Limited ( ARU ) The company conducts numerous transactions with the ARU in the normal course of the administration of the game of Rugby Union in the State of New South Wales. Under an agreement with the ARU the annual grants and player subsidies to the company were $8,359,283 in the period to 31 December 2009 (2008: $10,043,078). 19 Reconciliation of loss to net cash flow operating activities $ $ (Loss) for the year (1,883,767) (295,304) Depreciation and amortisation 761, ,374 Non-cash interest accrued 21,981 - Net loss on sale of non current assets 11,509 5,047 Change in operating assets and liabilities Decrease (increase) in receivables (661,202) 549,865 Increase (decrease) in creditors & other borrowings 2,322,699 (314,897) Increase (decrease) in other provisions 85,147 52,691 Net cash (outflow) inflow from operating activities 657, , Events occurring after the reporting period Effective 1 January 2010, the directors resolved to undertake a corporate reorganisation of the operations of New South Wales Rugby Union Ltd (NSWRU). Under the reorganisation, a new company, NSW Waratahs Ltd ( WL ) was incorporated. The voting members of WL, and two of seven directors, are appointed by NSWRU and accordingly the two legal entities are under common control. NSWRU has issued a licence to WL to conduct all the activities of administering professional rugby in NSW under the Waratahs brand. The ownership of intellectual property in the Waratahs remains vested with New South Wales Rugby Union Ltd. As a result, all contracts, agreement and other relationships pertaining to the operating of the Waratahs professional rugby business have been assigned to WL under licence. In addition, any assets and liabilities pertaining to the operation of the Waratahs of January 2010 have been transferred to WL and will be accounted for in accordance with the principles of predecessor accounting, which is applicable for entities under common control. Given the common control of the two legal entities, the assignment of the Waratahs activities was non-arms length and no consideration was paid or is payable. However, WL will pay a royalty to NSWRU each year for use of the Waratahs intellectual property. The royalty income by New South Wales Rugby Union Ltd will be utilised to fund its remaining obligations of administering the game of rugby in NSW at community level NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 61

64 Financial Report DIRECTORS DECLARATION 31 DECEMBER 2009 As stated in Note 1(a) to the financial statements, in the directors opinion, the company is not a reporting entity because there are no users dependent on general purpose financial reports. This is a special purpose financial report that has been prepared to meet Corporations Act 2001 requirements. The financial report has been prepared in accordance with Accounting Standards and mandatory professional reporting requirements to the extent described in Note 1. In the directors opinion: (a) the financial statements and notes set out on pages 45 to 61 are in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including: (i) complying with Accounting Standards and other mandatory professional reporting requirements as detailed above, and the Corporations Regulations 2001; and (ii) giving a true and fair view of the company s financial position as at 31 December 2009 and of its performance for the financial period ended on that date; and (b) there are reasonable grounds to believe that the company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable. This declaration is made in accordance with a resolution of the directors. Jim L Estrange Sydney Director 18 March NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

65 Financial Report AUDIT REPORT 31 DECEMBER 2009 PricewaterhouseCoopers ABN Darling Park Tower Sussex Street GPO BOX 2650 SYDNEY NSW 1171 DX 77 Sydney Australia Telephone Facsimile Independent auditor s report to the members of New South Wales Rugby Union Limited Report on the financial report We have audited the accompanying financial statements, being a special purpose financial report, of New South Wales Rugby Union Limited (the company), which comprise the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2009, the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows ended on that date for the period, a summary of significant accounting policies, other explanatory notes and the directors declaration. Directors responsibility for the financial report The directors of the company are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report and have determined that the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the financial statements, which form part of the financial report, are appropriate to meet the requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and are appropriate to meet the needs of the members. The directors responsibility also includes establishing and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report that is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances. Auditor s responsibility Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. No opinion is expressed as to whether the accounting policies used, as described in Note 1, are appropriate to meet the needs of the members. We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. These Auditing Standards require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial report is free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor s judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the company s preparation and fair presentation of the financial report in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the directors, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report. The financial report has been prepared for distribution to members for the purpose of fulfilling the directors financial reporting obligations under the Corporations Act We disclaim any assumption of responsibility for any reliance on this audit report or on the financial report to which it relates to any person other than the members, or for any purpose other than that for which it was prepared. Our procedures include reading the other information in the Annual Report to determine whether it contains any material inconsistencies with the financial report. Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 63

66 Financial Report AUDIT REPORT (Continued) 31 DECEMBER 2009 Independent auditor s report to the members of New South Wales Rugby Union Limited Our audit did not involve an analysis of the prudence of business decisions made by directors or management. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion. Matters relating to the electronic presentation of the audited financial report This auditor s report relates to the financial report of New South Wales Rugby Union Limited (the company) for the period ended 31 December 2009 included on the company s web site. The company s directors are responsible for the integrity of the company s web site. We have not been engaged to report on the integrity of this web site. The auditor s report refers only to the financial report named above. It does not provide an opinion on any other information which may have been hyperlinked to/from the financial report. If users of this report are concerned with the inherent risks arising from electronic data communications they are advised to refer to the hard copy of the audited financial report to confirm the information included in the audited financial report presented on this web site. Independence In conducting our audit, we have complied with the independence requirements of the Corporations Act Auditor s opinion In our opinion, the financial report of New South Wales Rugby Union Limited is in accordance with the Corporations Act 2001, including: (a) giving a true and fair view of the company s financial position as at 31 December 2009 and of its performance for the period ended on that date in accordance with the accounting policies described in Note 1, and (b) complying with Australian Accounting Standards to the extent described in Note 1 and complying with the Corporations Regulations PricewaterhouseCoopers Steve Bosiljevac Sydney Partner 18 March 2009 Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT

67 Proforma Income statements FOR the fourteen months ended 31 DECEMBER 2009 STATEMENT 1 Proforma Component Analysis of 14 Months Trading Activities This statement provides a comparison of the 12 month period to 31 October 2009 with the corresponding period of the previous financial year, and the results of the 2 month period to December 2009 being the extended period of the newly adopted financial year. 2 months to 31 December months to 31 October months to 31 October 2008 $ $ $ (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) Revenue from continuing operations - 21,101,129 25,884,892 Professional rugby costs Waratahs - Waratahs team costs (565,174) (10,898,559) (12,052,449) - Match day costs - (1,640,437) (2,189,003) - Sponsor costs (6,723) (1,054,476) (1,242,091) - Marketing costs 104,234 (1,037,280) (1,156,011) - Marketing costs (contra) - (388,688) (385,000) - Membership costs (12,223) (316,006) (397,754) - Commercial & Operations costs (150,452) (1,025,518) (1,399,098) Premiership Rugby (291,036) (1,837,001) (1,739,187) Community Rugby (136,004) (1,393,378) (2,741,088) Corporate (364,002) (1,946,581) (2,847,389) Finance costs (3,139) (22,453) (31,126) Net loss (1,424,519) (459,248) (295,304) STATEMENT 2 - Proforma Presentation of Corporate Restructure This proforma statement is presented to provide members with information regarding the financial impacts of the corporate restructure. The proforma income statement reflects the trading activities of NSWRU and WL for the twelve months ended 31 October 2009, as if the corporate restructure had taken place on 1 November The proforma statement is provided for information purposes only. NSWRU Actual Proforma Proforma 12 months to 31 December months to 31 October 2009 WL 12 months to 31 October 2009 NSWRU excl WL $ $ $ (unaudited) (unaudited) (unaudited) Revenue from continuing operations 21,101,129 18,756,379 2,344,750 WL licence fee 1,000,000 3,344,750 Professional rugby costs Waratahs - Waratahs team costs (10,898,559) (10,898,559) - - Match day costs (1,640,437) (1,640,437) - - Sponsor costs (1,054,476) (1,054,476) - - Marketing costs (1,037,280) (1,037,280) - - Marketing costs (contra) (388,688) (388,688) - - Membership costs (316,006) (316,006) - - Commercial & Operations costs (1,025,518) (1,025,518) - Premiership Rugby (1,837,001) - (1,837,001) Community Rugby (1,393,378) - (1,393,378) Corporate (1,946,581) (1,824,320) (122,261) Finance costs (22,453) (22,453) - Waratahs licence fee - (1,000,000) - Net loss (459,248) (451,358) (7,890) 2009 NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT 65

68 New South Wales Rugby Union would like to acknowledge the support of the following sponsors and partners for NSWRU ANNUAL REPORT