General manager’s update

Dear West Harbour Family,

Today, Saturday 2nd May, would have seen the West Harbour Pirates take on Northern Suburbs, in what would have been Round 5 of the 2020 Shute Shield season. Last year’s Round 11 match against Northern Suburbs was the televised match of the round, and proved to be one of the matches of the season with the Pirates securing a famous comeback victory, 40 – 37 on the bell.

Tune in to West Harbour TV this afternoon at 3pm brought to you by our valued partner, Maxton Fox for a full replay of the match. Be ready to take a roller coaster ride of emotion!

Now onto the positive and exciting news!

With Australia seemingly flattening the curve through self-isolation and social distancing regulations, the Sydney Rugby Union in conjunction with Rugby Australia and NSW Rugby in line with State and Federal Government guidelines, have announced a tentative Shute Shield starting date of Saturday July 25th.

Rugby Australia’s Return to Play guidelines require that all teams undertake a four week pre-season, which will be likely to commence in mid to late June, and the Pirates can not wait to take the field once more to compete in Australia’s premier club rugby competition. The revised 2020 Shute Shield competition will likely consist of a twelve regular round season and three weeks of finals.

Each Club will play each other once but with currently only eleven teams in the regular competition, a competitive twelfth team will need to be included. Currently there is a great deal of speculation regarding whether the twelfth team will see Penrith’s return or whether Newcastle are readmitted into the Shute Shield after a twenty year absence?

Either way the competition will continue through into the summer and stands to be a cracker of a season! 2020 will also see a number of grudge matches being played between a number of Shute Shield clubs and may also see the return of representative rugby to the Sydney Rugby Union, including Sydney versus Country and a Pacific Islands Select team play the rest of the World. Exciting times ahead!

Rugby Australia and the State Unions are less than a fortnight away from announcing their own return to the playing field in what could potentially be a very different domestic Super Rugby competition.

The likely return of the Western Force would see a domestic competition take place with the potential for a trans tasman competition taking place if Covid-19 travel restrictions are relaxed between Australia and New Zealand. This could also potentially open up opportunities for a series of Test matches to be played between the Wallabies and the All Blacks, fingers crossed!

Many of you would have read, heard and seen the goings on at Rugby Australia headquarters with the recent resignation of CEO, Raylene Castle following the delivery of a letter signed by eleven former Wallabies Captains. You may be wondering why I may be writing about this as this does not directly impact West Harbour and the Shute Shield.

Yet currently the Rugby Australia board is about to undertake the most comprehensive review of the governance model and structure of rugby in Australia. This could have direct ramifications for Club Rugby particularly if Rugby Australia decide to adopt a centralised governance approach.

Watch this space!

Comeback wins have become something of a trademark of West Harbour Rugby in recent years on and off the field yet as a Club, we can say with all honesty, that there has been very little consistency as to when those wins are forthcoming.

While I have no intention of harping on negative matters particularly as the Club’s seeming difficulties have been well documented in the press over the last few years, and because there are many more positive news items to discuss, I do wish to acknowledge that as a result of these inconsistencies the Club has remained perennial underperformers even though it has boasted a great deal of talent.

It is said that “true redemption is seized when you accept the future consequences for your past mistakes.” and at this moment that is exactly what we as a Club are doing. Under the guidance of Club President, Tom Andrews, the current Board, and Head Coach, Mark Gudmunson, a great deal of work has been undertaken since the end of 2018, and as a result, we have begun to right the pirate ship. Yet a great deal more has to be done!

The break in the season caused by the Covid-19 pandemic isolation regulations coupled with our recent move out of Concord Oval to Drummoyne Oval has continued to provide the Club with an opportunity to cast aside the shackles of the past few seasons, set new standards, systems and roles and responsibilities, and chart a course to where X marks the spot, that ever elusive yet coveted buried treasure, an inevitable Shute Shield premiership!

We may not achieve this goal right away but rest assured, West Harbour will no longer settle for less!

To that end, I would like to once again thank those Pirates that are going above and beyond to assist the Club in the last few weeks, especially during this week’s finalisation of the move out of Concord and into St Luke’s. Special mention once again must go to Ben Huckstepp and Peter Johnston, whose tireless work day in and day out have not only assisted me in transitioning into the General Manager’s role but the Club as a whole in immeasurable ways. They along with all our valuable volunteers are the heart and soul of the West Harbour Pirates.

Last but not least I would like to take this opportunity to once again thank our valuable partners who continue to support the Club during this most difficult and transitory time. One of our longest partner relationships is with Maxton Fox.

Maxton Fox manufacturers Commercial Joinery, Custom Joinery, and Commercial Furniture which includes anything from: workstations, to banquet seating, occasional furniture, reception suites, lounge chairs to task and executive seating.

For all your commercial joinery and furniture needs visit Maxton Fox at www.maxtonfox.com.au or contact them at sales@maxtonfox.com.au or telephone 02 9621 6611.

We thank them again sincerely, for sticking with us in these unparalleled times.

Take care, stay safe and look after each other and of course…Up the Pirates, Argggh!

Regards

John Abi-Saab

General Manager

West Harbour RUFC