General Managers Update

I hope you are keeping well in this weird twilight zone we find ourselves in.

By this stage of the Shute Shield season, 5 rounds would have been decided (I am fearlessly forecasting we are still undefeated…) and we would be busily preparing for our Round 6 clash with Parramatta and a huge Ladies Day at Coogee Oval tomorrow.

Disappointingly, as you know, none of this has or will happen. Plus, it certainly will be an unforgettable Mother’s Day this year, for all the wrong reasons again thanks to COVID-19. You can’t take mum to the ladies day, or out for Sunday lunch, but at least you can take her for a swim at Coogee Beach now, as long as you are exercising the old girl!

What’s in this Update:
We will bring you up to speed on the latest developments with Sydney Rugby Union (SRU) and potential timelines on Grade and Colts competitions recommencing and all the challenges associated with doing so. Think of a giant Rubik’s Cube on steroids!

We announce that a legend of the club is stepping down from the board and mourn the sad passing of two lovely ladies closely associated with some of our finest. We also have a few players looking for some employment help.

However, as always, we end on a more upbeat note with special promotions from our fabulous sponsors and some great gift ideas for mum from The Wicks Shop - which we hope you can continue to support. Please read on…

Timelines and Measures to Play in 2020!
Our President John Tuxworth and I are currently working with the NSWRU, SRU, all Shute Shield clubs and local government to find a workable solution to enable Grade and Colts competitions to proceed in 2020. A similar process is also underway for women’s rugby and the juniors with their relevant stakeholders also engaged.

For the men, the most likely outcome at this stage is a 12 round/3-week finals series competition format commencing on July 25 running through until the end of October. If NSW Government regulations are relaxed then this could happen earlier.

We are pushing hard to have all 7 teams within the club given the opportunity to play in 2020, as unsurprisingly most of our players are available to train immediately and play until is necessary – when the authorities allow it. Footballers just want to play footy.

Other clubs do have differing views and will seek to play a reduced number of teams due to player availability, financial constraints and minimising risks. So, having all grades returning in 2020 will be hotly debated, but as a community game, finding a way to enable participation for all those wanting to play should be the primary aim. It’s certainly ours!

We are also working closely with Randwick City Council and Randwick Petersham Cricket Club on Coogee Oval availability with a rugby timeline that will now runs into the traditional cricket season. Fortunately, we have great relationships and support from both.

Whether we are able to play with crowds or in a locked empty venue is also still not clear. There is much to work through, many unknowns and many things out of our direct control, to get Randwick Rugby back on the field in 2020.

We will update you as soon as we have firmer details on the competition confirmed, but as from the outset, we won’t make decisions that will compromise the health of our players, staff, volunteers, fans or the community.

Bob Dwyer Steps Down from Board:
Regrettably we advise that Bob Dwyer has decided to step down from the Randwick Rugby Council for personal reasons - after a herculean period of time serving our club.

Bob, as everyone knows, is one of our greats and the immediate past President. Despite resigning from his board post and in the spirit of old habits dying hard, he has promised to remain as supportive and encouraging as ever to the Galloping Green cause.

We sincerely thank Bob for his lifetime of incredible service to the club across absolutely all facets of it and to our game in general. As a new GM, it was great privilege for me to work closely with such an iconic Randwick figure and I learnt much from the experience.
Certainly, no-one has a rolodex the size and quality like Bob has!

Due to the massively interrupted nature of this season, the board decided unanimously to leave Bob’s position vacant until the AGM to be scheduled in December (Date TBC)

In Memoriam:
Sincere condolences from all at Randwick Rugby go to our President John Tuxworth on the passing on Tuesday of his mother-in-law Mary Bryant. To Tuxy, his wife Kim, Nick, Bill, Tom, Amy and their extended family and friends, we send our best wishes at this sad time.

Likewise, we also extend our deepest sympathies to club great Phil Kearns on the recent passing of his mother Nereda Kearns, whose grandson Finn is also a current player at the club. Our thoughts are with Phil, Julie, Finn and all the Kearns family and their friends.

It’s tough at any time for a family to lose their matriarch, but not being able to farewell and celebrate their lives surrounded by all their family and friends makes it even more difficult. RIP Mary and Nereda. God bless you both.

Jobs for the Boys (and girls...)
Obviously, everyone is affected by the current situation, but we do have a few players doing it very tough as job opportunities dry up and casual shifts get cut back – particularly those from the country without any local networks to fall back on.

If there are any opportunities in any field, we have some hardworking Randwick boys and girls ready, willing and able. Please email me if you do.

Support of Sponsors:
Again, we would ask you if you have the means or the requirements to do so, to support our sponsors businesses. Fortunately, we have some very loyal partners and our own Randwick Rugby Foundation, who we thank sincerely for sticking with us in these unparalleled times.

Please pay a visit online to our partners by clicking on their logo’s displayed below.

For instance, this weekend, our old mate Maurice at La Spiaggia Italian Restaurant in Coogee Bay Road, has a great takeaway menu designed to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Spoil your mum at home with a sumptuous 3 course feast instead for only $35 – plus with a bonus bottle of Moscato! I am salivating at the Roast Lamb Shoulder – so bon appetite!

Check it out or order online or by calling 9665 4660.

The Wick’s Shop Trading:
Our new online store The Wick’s Shop has successfully launched selling our 2020 season merchandise. Here you will find all the fabulous supporter gear you need at your fingertips – from jerseys, jackets, hoodies, beanies, caps and a whole lot more.

Dare I say, Randwick merchandise could be the ideal Mother’s Day gift, particularly for those rugby mum’s that look even hotter in a hint of Myrtle Green! Just look at Sam V!

Plus, you can continue to enjoy FREE Shipping for any order valued over $120.00!
Check it out the shop by clicking here.

Sign-Off:
As promised, we will keep you updated as any further news comes to hand on our season and incredibly we are still 7 wins and no losses at this point. I know it probably tiresome by now, but I wonder what reverse spin Manly have to put on it in their newsletter!

Most importantly to all the wonderful mum’s out there in Wickland and rugby have a fantastic Mother’s Day on Sunday – you so deserve it and we are not worthy without you.

Excuse me for indulging (call it the author’s prerogative…) in sending special Mother’s Day love to my beautiful mum Marion and a beautiful mum to my brood – Patrice!

Let’s just hope they love their gift club hoodies on Sunday! (don’t tell them…it’s a surprise)
Keep well, keep safe, be extra good to your mother and Up the Wicks!

Cheers
Mark