Auckland University Rugby Football Club Inc.

Presidents Report

Presidents Welcome 2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

On behalf of the Club Committee I would like to wish all our members the very best for 2012. At the club we are working very hard to ensure it is another memorable year of Varsity rugby for all involved. Even though the sun has only come out now, our preseason training has already commenced and our Sevens team will be competing in their last two tournaments, I wish them all the best. There are also some special events on the horizon, with our golf day, Under 85kg 7s tournament and the new Under 85kg boxing night, which will have players from our various Under 85kg teams slugging it out as part of their preseason training. Specific details of these events and others will be sent out in a regular newsletter, with updates on our website and Facebook pages will ensure we keep all our members up to date with all happenings at Colin Maiden Park.

2012 is a very ambitious and exciting year for the club on and off the field. While we hold the Club Championship and the Under 21 trophies, there are going to be some real challenges to maintain that status while striving for new levels of achievement, namely the Gallaher Shield. Being one of the largest clubs in Auckland with limited resources we will call upon your help more than ever, as it takes more than the fifteen players on the field to win a championship.

Stephen Kidd who is heading up our commercial arm of the club and is doing an excellent job with exploring alternative and new opportunities to bring much needed sustainable revenue into the club to maintain our positioning. For AURFC to survive in a very competitive club competition and commercial environment the Club has taken a much more professional outlook and strategy in how we ensure our operational side of the club supports and matches our ambition for on field performance.

Part of our strategy for improved operational performance is to have a strong database of volunteers and have them involved in a rewarding structured environment to help support our amibitous goals. There will be incentives and constant support from the club for people wishing to help out on a Saturday for a few hours, this will ensure our members and guests have an enjoyable game day experience. A recruitment letter outlining our programme for volunteers will be sent out to our database in the very near future.

Our Premiers will be onced again coached by Jim Dickin and Mark Kennelly with many players returning from 2011 giving a lot of stability to the squad. This year the club window is going to be protected from ITM coaches taking representative players away from club teams at the business end of the season. Last year we had nine players selected for the Auckland team, which is a major achievement and a credit to the quality of players we have at the club, but it ultimately harmed our chances of winning the Gallaher Shield without their availability to play in the finals. There are some youthful and exciting players coming up from the championship winning Under 21s to keep an eye out for, young winger Ben Paltridge has recently been called into the New Zealand Sevens squad and lock Sean Brookman has been involved in the early stages of the New Zealand Under 20 camps for their World Cup campaign in 2012. Again the likes of Grammar Carlton, Ponsonby, Papatoetoe and a very youthful Marist will be tough competitors this year. The first club game will kick off on April the 7th, a draw is yet to be confirmed.

Our Under 85kg teams are looking strong again, hoping to reclaim the Championship and Shield this year after being finalists in 2011 in those grades. Their campaign will begin with our Under 85kg 7s tournament, a boxing night and the Sir Colin Maiden Shield tournament.

The facilities have been improved over the summer period with particular attention to the No.10 field which has had extensive drainage work completed on it. Therefore look forward to see some expansive and fast running rugby by the boys in royal blue this winter.

There is also exciting growth in University of Auckland sport. We are working closely with their staff to help them achieve their goals while we ensure our student heritage and culture is continually fostered.

The latest John Drake Memorial Scholarship Sam Viskovich will be welcomed to the club, alongside past recipients Matthew Matich and Sean Brookman.

On behalf of the club I look forward to seeing you at Colin Maiden Park in the coming months whether it is a player, coach, spectator or sponsor. Please make yourself feel comfortable in our unique clubrooms and cheer on the boys.