DIRECTOR OF RUGBY ANNOUNCEMENT

CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21st

The Randwick District Rugby Union Football Club is today pleased to announce the appointment of Craig Hawkings as our new Director of Rugby for the 2026 season.

Craig takes on this hugely important role within the club, to run our rugby program, due to the impending departure of club legend Matthew Bowman, who has stepped down to spend more time with his young family and also support their burgeoning family landscaping business. We again thank ‘Bowie’ for all he has done for Randwick Rugby and wish him, his wife Claudia and kids Clementine, Scout and Sonny all the very best in the future.

Craig will work closely with our First Grade Head Coach Shaun Berne to ensure we have the best high-performance environment in place, that flows across all teams and coaches in the club. This includes our Women’s program and into our successful Junior Academy and other critical development pathway programs we operate.

He will also have overall stewardship of our Colts Program, a hugely important nursery, as demonstrated with all 3 of our Colts teams making Grand Finals this season and 1st & 2nd Colts both winning premierships.

Craig, is very well known in our district, a product of Marcellin College, Randwick, a former Wicks local junior, Colts and Grade player. Plus, he is a lifelong member of our partner in sport Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club.

In terms of rugby coaching, Craig is a very experienced Level IV coach and has a proven track record of working within senior high performance rugby environments and has been Head of Rugby Operations at Eastwood since 2018. Prior to that Craig was at Southern Districts from 2007 to 2015, where he served as General Manager, Director of Rugby and also coaching 1st Grade at various points during his time at the club. All up he has almost two decades experience working in the very top level of the Shute Shield and both clubs made 1st Grade Grand Finals during his tenure.

Randwick DRUFC President Brian O’Sullivan said “It’s great for our community to bring home a high-quality, home-grown talent like Craig, who came through a really competitive recruitment process that attracted many excellent applicants.”

“We’re thrilled Craig’s agreed to return to his myrtle green roots after a long career in community rugby with some great clubs. He brings vast experience across the Shute Shield and is highly respected by the clubs he’s served and at SRU level. We also want to thank Eastwood, who despite their obvious disappointment, were incredibly professional and supportive of Craig’s move back to Coogee, a real testament to the regard in which he’s held.” Brian concluded.

Craig said “I sincerely thank Eastwood for the wonderful experience I had working there over the last 8 years and wish them nothing but the best. However, I am extremely thrilled and honoured to earn this career opportunity at a club that I understand and deeply respect the values, style of play and tradition. I truly appreciate Randwick’s legacy and the role this position plays in ensuring it continues to flourish. I’m really looking forward to that challenge.”

Craig will commence duties with us on Monday, November 17, with our 2026 preseason training kicking off at Latham Park on Tuesday, November 18.

We welcome Craig back home to Randwick Rugby and wish him every success in this vital role and again thank Matthew for his invaluable contribution to our club over the past two years while in the chair.

Up the Wicks!

ENDS

For any media enquiries contact:

Mark Harrison
General Manager
Randwick DRUFC

via email: office@randwickrugby.com.au