At our Annual General Meeting (AGM), West Harbour’s Board and many of the Club faithful gathered for the opportunity to discuss the strategic direction of the Club this season.
2020 marks a milestone year for the Club, celebrating the duel milestones of 120 years since the establishment of Western Suburbs Rugby Club and 25 years since the rebranding of the Club to the West Harbour Pirates Rugby Club.
Within this celebration, West Harbour will experience a move from Concord Oval to Drummoyne Oval over the next two seasons. This will allow for the proposed redevelopment of Concord Oval, in what will become the finest Club Rugby facilities in NSW.
With the majority of 2020’s home games to feature in Drummoyne, West Harbour will further the development of the Inner West Rugby Hub, positively cementing West Harbour’s place as the premier rugby Club in the Inner West of Sydney.
Tom Andrews, President of West Harbour Pirates Rugby Club, outlined the board’s intentions to capitalise on competing in the Drummoyne area, with enticing new members and supporters very much a focus for the Club.
Central to these intentions is the Club’s new membership initiative for the 2020 season, the $30 for $30 membership offering. Upon purchasing a One Year Membership for $30, members receive the full benefit of Club membership including voting rights and entry into home games coupled with six beverage vouchers or a West Harbour cap valued at $30.
Mark Gudmunson has returned as Head Coach for 2020, to be joined by Fiji International and Club stalwart Campese Ma’afu. Ma’afu, who has represented Fiji in 62 test matches across three separate World Cup campaigns will join as scrum coach, bringing invaluable rugby experience to the Club.
This week’s AGM also saw Gudmunson announce the 2020 Club Ambassadors. Included in the group are international and Super Rugby players; Scott Sio, Allan and Michael Alaalatoa, Jack Debreczeni and Emma Tomagato.
These Club Ambassadors will work closely with West Harbour’s leadership group to ensure maintained player standards, and the development of a strong Club wide culture of shared responsibility.
In further good news for the Club, three quarters of its First Grade team will return for season 2020, including the addition of talented NSW Waratah and Australian U20 player, Carlo Tizzano.
Tizzano, who scored two tries in his Waratahs debut, was an integral part of the Australian U20 campaign over two years and represents the new wave of rugby talent in Australia. The energetic flanker is set to strengthen an already impressive list of forwards for the upcoming Shute Shield season.
The AGM was also an opportunity to celebrate Dianne and Michael Debreczeni, both awarded with inductions of life memberships in recognition of their selfless dedication to the Club over many years.
The evening was capped off with the confirmation of the Club’s Board for 2020.
President: Tom Andrews
Vice President: John Abi-Saab
Secretary: Vince Gee
Treasurer: John Meagher
Director: Tom Games
Director: Dan Paton
Director: Simon Greally
Director: Geoff Harper
Director: Steve Jurd
West Harbour would like to thank former Club Treasurer, Chris Charlton and Secretary, Phil McCrea for their years of tireless work within the Club.
2020 marks a watershed year for West Harbour, with the Club moving towards the second year of its five-year strategic vision. Central to this is the establishment of a structurally sound Rugby Club, playing competitively within the Shute Shield competition and proudly representing Sydney’s Inner West.
