kiap
Steve Williams (59)
Letter by Mitch Hardy (Joondalup Brothers Club):
To the Board of the Australian Rugby Union
through John Eales
It is with regret and sadness I have to sit here and actually write this letter. Twelve years ago my family and I packed our things and we moved to Perth. Back then it was to work for RugbyWA and help in the running of their local competition, develop community programs, get rugby into schools, club and volunteer management plans and kick start the RugbyWA academy. There was already a thriving rugby community here and with the onset of the Western Force and its launch in 2005 over the last 12 years has seen the game flourish, expand and grow. I was lucky enough to have 7 good years working for the WA rugby community as an administrator, volunteer, coach, referee, high performance leader and assisted in building this game we all care about into something everyone was proud of.
Since leaving RugbyWA I have continued to support rugby via coaching, refereeing and volunteering on committees. My sons have both played since they were 5 and both have represented WA in rugby. This is their home and they both aspire to represent their state and possibly play for the Western Force. This has been taken away by those that only look at numbers not the game.
I have always been a servant to the game and those that know me understand what I am about. I played until I wasn't able to play retiring at the age of 42. I have played junior club rugby, Sydney club rugby, state rugby, super rugby, for the Wallabies and back to Sydney club back to Perth club and so on all the while living the true spirit and values rugby represents.
I have coached many talented young players across this time and shared stories and great memories with many stalwarts of the game including Geoff Stooke whom I admire greatly for his attitude towards the game.
My proudest moment was playing for Australia and being able to share the same turf with absolute legends of the game like yourself all of whom I respect and admire. I tell my kids all the time about the great players and what they could do on the field and how they carried themselves in victory and defeat. It is rare to see these attributes these days, but there are glimpses. Richard Hardwick is a great example of one who inspires young players. WA needs these champions as part of the process to engage kids. WA needs the Western Force and it what it stands for.
I am gutted to say the least at the way the WA rugby community have been treated. The board of the ARU are not there for the Wallabies they are there for Rugby and I have to say you have let the game and yourselves down. You have let me down as a long standing supporter and advocate for the game.
I and many others worked tirelessly for the game over here, clubs, teachers in schools, volunteers and staff at RugbyWA have worked only to be delivered a killer message and for you to stand by and let this happens begs disbelief that people I know and respect have not fought for the game around the board table.
This won't end with a press conference it will drag on for a long time and the game will be destroyed from within, it will cost millions of dollars. Sydney club rugby and Brisbane club rugby will probably survive and the rest will be left to wither and die a slow painful death.
This is the blackest day for rugby I can ever recall and those in other sports are laughing at us in disgust and bewilderment. You have all stood a party to this. You underestimate the passion and support for the game here in WA. Do you really want the ARU tarnished with this brush of hatred and disgust?
I am astounded at the lack of empathy for the game in WA and the lack of any respect towards the WA rugby community and to hear that the game will be ok with no solution or package offered concerns me greatly. Where is the funding package that will be in place for the next 3 years to get the game to 2020? What is the community structure / staff structure pathways programs financial support that will assist in the game here? What work has been done on this by the staff at the ARU and the board ? Nothing has been forthcoming throughout this whole process as to the future, no vision has been shared or communicated!
The silence by those that sit on the board and the lack of engagement is disrespectful to say the least. The board needs to get back on the front foot with this issue and deliver something to the WA community that is tangible.
I understand the Western Force has not financially performed but RugbyWA has done more for the game in a short period of time than anyone one of you could have achieved or dreamed of. You have turned your back on the game itself. Think about that for a moment.
What happens next is important for us all. I urge you to work with staff at ARU and RugbyWA levels to ensure there ARE truly strong pathway programs in place, there IS support for community rugby at development and competition level, the Western Force IS reinstated and we ALL work towards a common vision for Australian Rugby.
I am here, there are good people here prepared to work hard for the game. I suggest you do the same and give some thought and purpose to the "what next" part of your role.
I am a supporter of the game and will always be but it is wearing very thin at the moment. If you are close to losing a person like myself how many others have you already lost and how many more will you lose in the future.
Yours in rugby
Mitch Hardy
Wallaby #735
