Presidents Update June 2023
How quickly the season is moving – one minute we’re preparing for trials, next minute we’re at the halfway mark in the 2023 Shute Shield season.
And what a season it has been for Southern Districts, on and off the rugby field.
Greenfields
If you’ve been to the rugby club recently you will have seen a remarkable change – the clubhouse has been renovated and painted, and is now operating as a proper licensed club Thursdays to Sundays every week. This includes the incredible food and beverage offerings of “Greenfields”, our fully licensed bistro overlooking the best rugby field in Sydney !
Greenfields offers a wonderful wine list, huge pub-style meals at terrific prices, and a large range of beverages at club prices – including the best beer in Sydney from our newly upgraded beer system.
For years our club has lamented the under-utilised asset of the licensed club, especially during each off-season when the club sits empty much of the time. Not anymore.
We have created a wonderful hub for our community to gather, to celebrate, to reminisce, to enjoy.
All we ask now is that you, our supporters, enjoy it – and pass it on to all of your friends and family.
But it’s not just for “Souths people” - we want to fill our Thursday nights, Friday afternoons and nights, Saturdays, and Sunday afternoons (with live music!) with our local neighbours as well.
Of course this has not just happened – it is the driving force of our new Commercial General Manager Grant Skelton underpinning this remarkable shift. Skello is a force of nature, as I am sure most of you know ! Thanks for supporting him in whatever ways you can.
Special thanks to new sponsor the St George Motorboat Club for recognising the potential of Greenfields and supporting it in so many ways.
This initiative is to strengthen the continued viability of our Club and with your support, we will be off to a great start.
If you are holding or considering a function of any description, work or fun, or indeed just for your family Schnitzel nights then get down the club.
Rugby
We are right on track. I know that doesn’t sound quite right when we’ve had just three first grade wins thus far, but we are right on track.
We have had three first grade wins, the same number as the whole of as last year, at the halfway mark. This includes the 2023 “upset of the season” win over top-of-the-table Hunter a couple weeks ago, and a number of close losses.
On the one hand it wouldn’t take much to do better than last year, where we finished last with just 3 wins from 18 games.
One the other hand it takes time to re-build, especially in the most competitive club rugby competition in the world. New Club Coach, new Head Coach, new players, new systems….
Please be patient as the re-build continues, but I can assure you – we are right on track.
There have been signs of this everywhere, not just in first grade. There are some very encouraging signs in the lower grades & Colts, including:
Second grade – we all feel for the boys who have had 4 games won, and then lost on or after the bell in heart-wrenching circumstances - to Wests, Warringah, Two Blues, and competition favourites Sydney Uni who scored on the bell to win 7-6. We are on the mark in 2s, the breakthrough win is now well overdue.
Third grade – won their first game in almost two seasons and backed it up with another to finally be free from the bottom of the table. Congratulations lads, keep improving!
Fourth grade – are sitting in their accustomed position near the top of the table, well done thus far. A special acknowledgement of the true club spirit that emanates from all involved in 4s, highlighted by so many backing up all grades every week as genuine clubmen do. Thanks, and keep winning!
Colts – have had a number of terrific wins at home and away in all grades. George, Liam, Trevor and the crew are building a great program on the base of a very young squad – watch out for the rest of 2023, and for 2024 and beyond !
Around the traps
One of the roles of a Shute Shield rugby club is to be the final stepping stone to professional and representative rugby for our players and coaches. It is always a bitter-sweet moment when we learn of our best players moving onwards and upwards – and of course we hope to see them back at Forshaw whenever they can. In recent times our club has, as always, punched well above our weight in helping the following Rebels achieve their goals:
Jay Tregonning – Wallaroos Head Coach
Nathan Lawson – continues his rise in the Aussie Sevens team
Blake Schoupp – Brumbies train-on, Brumbies contract, Wallabies squad
Xavier Degei – Junior Wallabies squad
Jackson Ropata – Junior Wallabies v NZ
Jed & Tetera – on fire for the Waratahs
Matt Gibbon - Melbourne Rebels
Bailey Kuenzle – Western Force
Conor Young – Canada, conference-topping New England Free Jacks in the MLR
Sama Malolo – conference-topping San Diego Legion in the MLR
Max Freeman - Winning the title for Wimbledon RFC and bagging player of the year
Community
Congratulations to the Burraneer Rays for winning the 2023 Centenary Sevens competition in Sri Lanka in April. This is a world class win from a world class team in a world class tournament – well done Rays!
Good luck to all of the Southern Districts Juniors representing the Rebels in next weekend’s State Championships across NSW.
We are loving to see the broad variance in our Rugby community utilising our facilities and encourage you to reach out as we have, with SDJRU Minis, space for training, Waratah program, School holidays camps, Gym programming, Womens Sevens Comp, Womens 10’s Comp and plenty of other opportunities.
Thanks
None of this happens without huge levels of support from so many people in our club community. Sponsors, staff, volunteers, members, those who simply turn up and buy a beer or a burger – we thank you all.
Very special thanks to Andy and Joan Orrell from the Hairyman Brewery. These guys are more than financial supporters of the club as our major beer sponsor and supplier. Make sure you thank them by buying an icy cold Hairyman whenever you can.
On a final note, the club’s annual all inclusive Major Lunch is just a month away on Friday 30th June. Anyone who’s been to a previous lunch will tell you what a terrific afternoon it is. This year we have World Cup winning Wallabies coach and Australian rugby legend Bob Dwyer speaking, and he will be supported by the incredible magician and entertainer Jackson Aces.
Please secure a table, or a seat or two. It is filling up, but there are still a few tables left – don’t miss out, and help support your club at the same time.
Southern Districts is on our way back.
Thanks for being a part of the Rebellion !
Brad Devine
President
