President’s Christmas Message

As 2020 draws to a close I’d like to thank the Southern Districts rugby community for your undying support in what has been a very challenging year. It was through your commitment that we managed to not only survive the year of COVID but turn it to our advantage in laying the foundations for our future success.

My sincere thanks, in particular, go to the outgoing President Ken Mackay, outgoing Director of Rugby Ben Janssen, and the board of 2020. They navigated the club through ever-changing rules and regulations and managed to get our players on the field and supporters in the ground when it looked like being impossible.

As we approach 2021 there is a new season upon us – and not just on the field. There is something building. Something special. You can feel it. Amongst the players. Amongst the coaches. Amongst the sponsors. The members. The volunteers. The Favourite Sons…. You can feel it. It is the Power of One Club.

There is a new Southern Districts board of directors in place. A new President. A dedicated focus to shape a sustainable commercial structure to ensure that rugby in the greater Southern Districts and Illawarra region is revitalised, growing and performing at every level.

This off-season has borne some significant fruit already.

We have had a number of new businesses join the Sponsorship team. Welcome aboard, and a massive vote of thanks for your faith in our club – the journey ahead holds great promise.

The advanced development programs for our juniors have been underway since October, and have been monumentally successful. Over 150 future Souths champions are engaged in up to three sessions per week under the guidance of outstanding Head Coach Todd Louden and the amazing Brett Gallagher. Our thanks must go to the Southern Rugby Alliance for their instrumental work in supporting this tremendous initiative.

Speaking of Brett Gallagher, the Club has taken the significant step of appointing Brett to the newly created role of Pathways Development Manager. This role is exclusively designed to strengthen and smooth the road for all young aspiring rugby players across the greater Southern Districts region through to our Colts, our senior grades, into first grade Shute Shield and beyond. Although part-time initially, we are believing that we will be able to support this role full time with a little help in due course.   

The board has also laid out some aggressive plans on the commercial side of our club operations, and have undertaken to appoint a part-time business development manager in the new year. More news to follow on this front, but suffice to say that we are excited about where we are headed in 2021 and beyond.

On the rugby front, Todd Louden has been busy since the late end to the 2020 season. And I mean BUSY. His work to build on the foundations laid in 2020 has been…. astounding. We have assembled an incredible coaching team, the biggest in the club’s history. And we have recruited a small number of key players in key positions to provide much need cover for the significant injuries we suffered in 2020. We are not interested in “buying” premierships. We do not have the budgets of some (most) of the other Sydney clubs. But we have something far more valuable….

For as long as I can remember Southern Districts – and St George & Port Hacking before – have been Rebels. In the true sense of the word. Outsiders, fighting for what is right. Today’s Premier Sydney Rugby Competition is the toughest, fastest, most professional “semi-professional” club competition in the world. And we are still Rebels, fighting for good.

This is what binds our community. It binds our Club.

No matter who you are in our club community, no matter where you fit in, you are welcome.

Everyone can contribute something - coming to our games, answering the call for volunteers, becoming a financial partner or sponsor, whatever and wherever you are able.

And we need your contribution now.

Something is building. Something special.

Let’s stand together as One Club.

Let’s march together and demonstrate the Power of One Club.

Let’s fight the Rebel fight for our destiny – to be the premier club in Sydney rugby.      

Merry Christmas to you and your families. I look forward to meeting you, or seeing you again, through the course of 2021.

Brad Devine
SDRC, President