SJRU ANNUAL REPORT 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Office Bearers… Page 3 Chairpersons Report… Pages 4-5 Income Statement… Page 6 Financial Position… Page 7 Competition Report… Pages 8-9 Competition Analysis… Pages 10-11 Minis Report… Page 12 Sevens and Girls Rugby Report… Pages 13 State Championship Winners… Pages 14 Representative Teams Pages 15-16 Grand Final Results … Page 17 Friday Competition Results… Page 18 Sunday Competition Results… Pages 19-22 Sponsors… Page 23 2 OFFICE BEARERS SJRU BOARD 2017 JUDICIARY Mark Ashurst Dougal Geddes Chairperson Katrina Oxenham Andrew Hourigan Cameron Player Director-Finance Sandy Basten Nicholas Garling Chris Shaw Director-Representatives Robert Martin Tina Brunton Director- Minis Anthony Hunt DISTRICT PRESIDENTS Director- Sunday Competitions U13-Opens Eastern Suburbs Gordon Fell Tricia Waters Eastwood Michael Larkin Director- Sunday Competitons U10-U12 Gordon Brad Harrison Sarah Mullette Manly James Forsyth Northern Suburbs Paul Rathborne Director- Girls Rugby and 7s Tony Cooper Parramatta Daniel Smith Penrith Ellen Director-Development Ross Mottershead Smallacombe Randwick David Caple Director-Sponsorship Nicole Williamson Southern Districts Tim Ahern Sydney University Fergus Duncan Director Partnerships Owen Finnegan Warringah Sue Barry-Cotter West Harbour Siobhan Seiuli Representative Western Clubs Gary Tunks SJRU Board Meeting Attendance Representative Northern Clubs Luke McCormack Katrina Oxenham 10/10 Representative Southern Clubs Gordon Fell Sandy Basten 6/10 Robert Martin 8/10 Anthony Hunt 9/10 ADMINISTRATION Tricia Waters 7/7 Sarah Mullette 9/10 Competition Manager Kerry Brady Tony Cooper 10/10 Ross Mottershead 6/10 Competition Administrator Susan Stenning Nicole Williamson 8/10 Gary Tunks 2/4 Luke McCormack 8/10 Gordon Fell 4/10 Owen Finnegan 4/8 !4 CHAIRPERSONS REPORT On behalf of the Sydney Junior Rugby Union (SJRU), Supporters thank you to all Clubs and Districts and respective We have many supporters and partners in this game, with Out and About members for their involvement in junior rugby union Media and Marke7ng producing signage, a media wall and banners for us during the 2017 season. for both Registra7on Day and the State Championships. We also have Eratap Beach Resort and Genesis Proprietary Trading partnering with us The SJRU has experienced some significant progress and ini7a7ves during for the State Championships, and we are very apprecia7ve of the support this season and is proud to be focussed on ‘growing the game’ for our these partners have shown to grassroots rugby union. Mazda and Spartan true grassroots community, junior rugby in Sydney. have also con7nued their commercial arrangement with the Sydney Junior Rugby Union. Strategic Plan Registra7on & Compe77on We have developed a Strategic Plan for 2017-2020, with the input of our Board of Directors and the revision of district representa7ves and club We adopted the na7onal Registra7on and Compe77on System in Rugby delegates. This highlights the plans for the future of our junior game and Link, with the inten7on of aligning with the na7onal plaaorm u7lising this the challenges in our sport, met with posi7ve and clear plans for future system, as the previous system in 2016 was significantly lacking in seasons. capabili7es. We are currently reviewing its adequacy and agita7ng for improvements to this system in 2018 and further plans for the u7lisa7on We have iden7fied eight key pillars by which to grow the game of rugby of a more intui7ve system for 2019 and beyond. For 2018, there are key and will, over the next three years endeavour to achieve these outcomes technological developments for a rugby app, where intui7ve registra7on, and be guided by this simple strategic vision. simplified and automated sign on and photo sheets, live scoring and results, season draws and fixtures and also the administra7on of the Website compe77on will be focussed on with a determina7on to have employed significant improvements for the coming season. We also launched our website at the beginning of the season, which will con7nue to be the central resource for all of our 60 Clubs, 12 Districts Par7cipa7on Numbers and over 12,000 players. Registra7on numbers have slightly increased from 2016 to 2017, and with This has enabled our clubs, administrators, players, commercial partners the inclusion of the Sevens numbers, the SJRU has experienced and and interested par7es access to informa7on in an unprecedented central increase in player numbers in what can be described as a difficult form. There are key resources, calendars, wet weather no7fica7ons, spor7ng environment for all junior sport due to some general popula7on ground informa7on, draws and results, club directories for every club, changes in par7cular, the number of children involved in organised and various updated news flash items throughout the year, keeping our compe77ons. With further resources and efforts devoted to recruitment stakeholders up to date in real 7me. and reten7on of players, the SJRU plans to increase this further in the Registra7on Day coming seasons and improve our junior rugby union par7cipa7on. Our Sydney wide Registra7on Day at the Sydney Sevens tournament, Weight for Age Analysis helped launch the season and registra7ons for our clubs and give the SJRU a presence at this interna7onal event. With significant growth in this With the discussion around Weight for Age, the SJRU ini7ated the form of the game, as well as the fes7val atmosphere of the world inpu7ng of Weight and Height data being mandatory for all registered compe77on, it was a 7mely introduc7on to the season with the focus on players in Rugby Link. Sydney and on Rugby Union. We also took our own data at the State Championships, across every age We had television coverage from Fox Sports and exposure for the junior group for the purposes of analysis of this group of players. This has registra7ons Sydney wide to assist our clubs in obtaining promo7on to returned some interes7ng results, around the ‘outliers’ for each age aSract new and retain exis7ng players. group and a debate around all considera7ons when moving a player up or down an age group as per the new dispensa7on and Safety guidelines Ambassadors issued by Rugby Australia. We have, for the first 7me, appointed an SJRU Ambassador, Phil Waugh They also conducted a detailed study in the ACT, considering the years of who played 124 Super Rugby matches for the Waratahs, and 79 test caps accelerated growth for adolescents, including GPS tracking, measuring for the Wallabies. Phil is currently head coach of the touring Mosman speed, impact at the tackle contest, power, and subjec7ve data such as Junior Rugby Club U12s and con7nues to be involved at all levels of the skill and maturity of the player. These results will be used in line with the game. He began at Narrabeen, then school years at Shore and through exis7ng and revised Na7onal Safety and Par7cipa7on Policy, as well as the the pathway at Warringah District to the Waratahs and then the SJRU State Championship data to address player safety and welfare and Wallabies. He has a strong passion for the game and for the future of the have appropriate measures in place. The SJRU will con7nue to gather sport, beginning at the very grassroots, and we are honoured to have him important data from our playing group at both Registra7on and also at involved at the SJRU. successive State Championships, as a means of having accurate data to support outcomes. The SJRU appointed Owen Finegan as director of Partnerships. Owen played 93 Super Rugby matches at the Brumbies as flanker or lock and 56 Planning and Advisory group test matches at the Wallabies. Owen maintains a strong connec7on to Towards the end of the season, a 2018 Planning and Advisory Group was the grassroots, coaching all levels of club rugby from his children’s village formed, with two representa7ves from each district asked to review and club team the Coogee Seahorses right through to first grade rugby at recommend key outcomes and amendments for an improved 2018 Randwick. Both Rugby greats are assis7ng where they can in fostering the season. growth and development of junior rugby and suppor7ng the grassroots through their ac7ve involvement. !5 CHAIRPERSONS REPORT This collabora7ve approach, with inclusive and diverse representa7on, Digital media has been produc7ve in influencing change for future seasons. The group was formed to openly discuss what is great about junior rugby, what Our digital footprint with the launch of the SJRU Social Facebook Group, requires work and what needs change. The group has worked has enabled clubs to share informa7on and ini7a7ves, and collabora7ve on influencing issues and provided a voice for their clubs communicate in an unprecedented way. We currently have 4,280 and districts. The representa7ves volunteered further 7me to the game followers and growing. to influence discussions around the registra7on and compe77on We now have a thriving sevens compe77on, and enabled new system, regrading, dispensa7ons, the import rule, season draw, the compe77ons and pathways for the girls, both key growth areas of the SJRU strategic plan, match officials, weight for age, medical concussion game. blue card, general player welfare and safety, grassroots development We plan to con7nue to grow the shortened form of the game for juniors plan, representa7ve rugby, recruitment, reten7on, and promo7on of and provide further opportuni7es for girls to play rugby. junior rugby union. The discussions were robust and produc7ve. The Planning Advisory Group will con7nue to meet monthly during the 2018 season in a combined effort to improve our game. Compe77on Management The management of the compe77on and all the support behind the Stakeholders scenes to allow our almost 12,000 players to enjoy weekly rugby union We ini7ated some further consulta7on with our stakeholders, and right across Sydney is valued. organised mee7ngs with our Western Clubs to determine how we can Susan Stenning, the compe77on assistant, thank you for your effec7vely assist in growing the game in the west and listen to what are commitment to the game, oien behind the scenes.