Annual Report 2012 Rugby This Report has been prepared by Rugby Southland for the 2012 AGM. Southland Inc. Table of Contents: Chairmans Report 3 General Managers Report 4 Our People 6 Representative Teams and Management 8 Honours Board 9 Southland Stags Report 10 Academy Report 12 Council of Rugby Clubs Report 14 Club Rugby Results 16 Referee’s 21 Representative Rugby Results 23 Grounds and Facilities 26 Sevens Rugby 27 Commercial and Marketing 30 Financials Attached 2 Chairmans Report: Paul Menzies I have pleasure in presenting the Chairman’s Report for year end 31 December 2012. Rugby Southland is now some two years into a recovery plan projected to be a three to five year exercise. Year two of our recovery was always seen by Rugby Southland, the Initial Change Manager and our funders as being the most difficult year operationally and so it has proven. It is credit to our staff, our supporters and all our volunteers that we have come through the second year in tact and on track. Year two was the year where we faced huge financial challenges. As a recovering union we budgeted for a deficit of some $235,000.00. Mid year 2012, we faced rising costs, falling sponsorships and low gate takings and the board of Rugby Southland was facing a deficit year end forecast of some $400,000.00. As a Board we met those challenges and made some necessarily hard decisions which thanks to management and staff have resulted in Rugby Southland controlling its finances adequately and as a result beating our budgeted forecast deficit by some $50,000.00. We take some satisfaction from that but are aware that the challenge remains and the task gets no easier. For the first time for some years we are now budgeting a real surplus for 2013 albeit a small one. The challenge will be to achieve budget whilst improving performance both on and off the field. Those things are logically diametrically opposed and our ability to achieve superior performance on the field is undoubtedly affected by our finances. The task is a huge one. Nevertheless we have the management and staff in place and with your continued support we are confident of achieving our goal of long term sustainability. We have endeavoured all the while to build the strength of community rugby and in addition to promote our Sevens team and Woman’s rugby, both Sevens and 15 a side. Our age group teams continue to box above their weight and our Secondary School Girls team achieved great success last year. It is this strengthening of community and age group rugby both men and women that will stand us in good stead for the future. Once again I thank our staff and volunteers for the endless energy and passion they apply to our game in the south. Thanks also to my fellow Board members. We have remained a focussed group unified by determination to ensure the success of rugby in the south. Thanks also to our major funders Invercargill Licensing Trust and the Community Trust of Southland without whom our game would be in dire straits. Paul Menzies 3 General Manager Report: Brian Hopley In 2012 Rugby Southland focussed on improving community rugby and providing a meaningful competition at all levels throughout Southland. The union is also responsible for providing a competitive Stags team in the ITM cup. Following the very difficult financial period of 2010 and 2011, it was noted that 2012 was always going to be the toughest year financially. For 2012 we were operating under a Change Managers budget, which was difficult as there were some miscalculations made in income and expenditure. Once these inaccuracies were taken into consideration a significant loss was predicted for 2012. Despite these predicted loss Rugby Southland would still be cash positive in 2012. Commercially 2012 was a very tough year, and this could be attributed to the worldwide economic climate. Sponsorship income was down generally, and the game day revenue was substantially down on previous seasons. Despite these factors we continued to deliver resources to community rugby, and managed our expenditure very well to come in at the end of the year with a better financial result than predicted. COMMUNITY RUGBY Community rugby is the heart of our union and we are proud of our achievements and how we perform comparatively on a national level. In the 2012 benchmarking by NZRU we increased player numbers by 4%, coaches by 9% and referees by 14%. Southland also ranked 1st in NZ for players as a percentage of population, and player retention which is a great result. These results clearly show that the dedicated volunteers throughout Southland are doing a fantastic job. Community rugby is the cornerstone of rugby throughout the world and Southland is no different. We acknowledge the tireless work undertaken by the volunteers involved in Junior Club Rugby, School Rugby, and Senior Club Rugby that is fundamental to the delivery of grass roots rugby. The introduction of the Council of Rugby Clubs and the Youth Rugby Council to oversee and manage Club Rugby was very successful and I would like to thank the members of these two groups for their efforts and support throughout 2012. The rugby councils were also part of a very comprehensive club rugby review in 2012. The improvement of club rugby is a work in progress with further improvement to be made in coming years. Rugby Southland will continue to work closely with community rugby and provide resources to ensure club rugby and provincial teams are well supported. We are now well into 2013, and our planning has gone well with a very positive approach being taken by the union which should ensure a very successful year. This year our focus is coach the coaches as we feel by improving our coaching standards we will improve our players. The Rugby Southland Community Rugby team will continue offering development and support designed to grow the game in Southland. 4 FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY In these tough economic times Sporting Organisations will face a lot of challenges, and Rugby Southland is no different, and needs to ensure financial sustainability by running a very lean well controlled organisation. We will continue to actively seek sponsorship support and commercial opportunities to that we can continue to provide the work required to provide a meaningful community rugby program and to support the Stags in the ITM Cup. Although Rugby Southland recorded a predicted loss for 2012, we have through good financial management and budgeting forecasted a small operating surplus for 2013 and beyond. The Southland Rugby Community are very aware that none of this would be possible without the continued support of our Community Funders, the Invercargill Licensing Trust, the Community Trust of Southland, the Invercargill Licensing Trust Foundation and the NZRU. NZRU is a strong supporter of Rugby Southland providing both financial and resource support. We also would like to acknowledge our commercial sponsors including Southern Institute of Technology, Lion Nathan, Rothbury Insurance and Canterbury of New Zealand, all of whom play a vital role in Rugby Southland’s continued success. SERVING RUGBY IN SOUTHLAND Thank you to our Board, Council of Rugby Clubs, Youth Rugby Council, Disciplinary and Appeals Committees, Supporters Club, Referees, Coaches, Local Councils, our suppliers, and everyone else who contribute to the game in Southland – your expertise, dedication, drive and support is invaluable. Thank you to everyone for their on-going commitment, hard work and professionalism within the wider Rugby Southland community. A big thank you must also go to Regent Cars for their continued support throughout 2012 Tom, Chris and the team have been long term and active supporters of the union and like many of our loyal sponsors stuck by us through thick and thin. On a personal note I would like to thank Craig Morton for his support, advice and assistance during my first year at Rugby Southland. Craig’s extensive knowledge of rugby in Southland and NZ, it made my transition into the role of General Manager a lot smoother. Finally to the Staff of Rugby Southland thank you for your enthusiasm, loyalty, hard work and commitment to the game of rugby, your support through a very tough 2012 was very much appreciated. Brian Hopley 5 Our People President Donald Hay Board of Directors 2012 Messrs Paul Menzies (Chairman), Murray Acker, Alex Derbie, Wayne McEwan, Peter Jackson, Des Minehan, Toni Green (Community Trust of Southland Delegate), Alan Dennis (Invercargill Licensing Trust Delegate), Mike Piper (New Zealand Rugby Union Delegate). Life Members Messrs Bill Anderson, Ray Harper, Kevin Laidlaw, Leicester Rutledge, Tom Shirley, Ack Soper and Alistair Tait. CORC (Council of Rugby Clubs) Barney Blakely, Rex Carter, Deon Hourston, TrevorDyer, Shane Harvey Charlie Hay, John & Raylene Hogg, Kim McDowall, Willie Lawton, Donald Hay, Barry Simmonds, Don McFarlane. YRC (Youth Rugby Council) Frazer Allan, Peter Henderson, Trevor Dyer, Stephen Dobson, Roger Pope, Irene TeKoeti, Simon Hopcroft, Brooke Grimwood, Denise Fodie, Kevin Holland, Gareth Scott, Rex Carter. Staff . General Manager - Brian Hopley . Director of Rugby - Craig Morton . Commercial and Marketing Manager - Mark Wilson . Personal Assistant / Finance Assistant – Heather Adams/Andrea Irvine . Stags Head Coach - David Henderson . Stags Assistant Coach - Daryl Thompson . Stags Scrum Coach – Clarke Dermody . Stag’s Manager - Glenn Morrison . Stag’s Assistant Manager - Leicester Rutledge . Strength and Conditioning Coach - Mark Beer . Stags Physio – Karl McDonald . Stags Doctor – Peter Finlayson . Academy Manager - Peter Skelt . Referee Education Officer / Rugby Manager - Keith Crothers . Coach Development Manager - Kelly Hansen . Player Development Manager - Jason McKenzie . Nutritionist – Aimee Burns . Marketing and Rugby Development -Matt Saunders . Marketing and Events - Jodie Chilton . Registration Administration Manager (Volunteer) - Bill Anderson .