RugbyKO

Far from being a “dirty word,” fundraising is a critical part of supporting rugby. Importantly, if you don’t ask, you don’t get. Today, we speak with former Olympic rower and Executive Director of the Australian Rugby Foundation, Peter Murphy, about the role his foundation plays in funding rugby. Our conversation opens as Peter explores the Foundation’s purpose and the five major pillars that it focuses on, including women’s, grassroots, First Nations, and high-performance rugby, along with player welfare. We talk about how the foundation guides local clubs, providing them with toolkits and resources to help them fundraise. On the topic of transparency around spending, Peter discusses the systems and governance model that tracks every dollar that his foundation spends. We touch on the contributions made by John Howard the Foundation’s Chairman, how the Foundation operates with other fundraising bodies, and why coterie groups are an excellent fundraising model. Peter then shares details about his work as the high- performance manager for the Fiji Rugby Union, and the pride that this has brought him. Near the end of the episode, we dive into the foundation’s 2021 goals. Tune in to hear more about Peter’s work and how it enriches the world of rugby. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Exploring the role of the Australian Rugby Foundation in funding Australian rugby. 

• Hear about the Australian Rugby Foundation’s five pillars of focus. 

• Shifting investment from high-performance play to grassroots rugby. 

• Why “fundraising” isn’t a dirty word; it’s a tool to enrich valuable projects. 

• How the Australian Rugby Foundation is making it easy for clubs to fundraise. 

• What the Australia Rugby Foundation does to create transparency around spending. 

• How their chairman, John Howard, has shaped their organisation. 

• The relationship between different fundraising bodies. 

• The psychology behind giving; you donate to what engages you. 

• How COVID has negatively affected community funds and player numbers. 

• Raising money through a coterie system or ‘giving circles.’ 

• Peter shares details about his work as the high-performance manager for Fiji Rugby Union. 

• Insights into the Foundation’s 2021 goals, emphasising women’s and grassroots rugby. 

“Fundraising is not a dirty word. The biggest mistake a club can make is not having a go at it. You’ll be surprised at what you have in your network.” — Peter Murphy [0:12:14] 

“We know that if we keep our talent in this game, playing rugby and not going to other codes — it’s a big investment that will create depth in rugby.” — Peter Murphy [0:29:38] 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 
Peter Murphy on LinkedIn 
Australia Rugby Foundation 
Australia Rugby Foundation Toolkits 
Hearts in Union 
The Shore Foundation 
Rugby Xplorer 
Australian Sports Foundation J
John Howard 
Positive Rugby Foundation 
Queensland Reds Foundation  
The Future Force Foundation 
Brumbies Rugby Foundation 
Dr. Nicola Forrest 
Andrew Forrest  
Fiji Rugby Union 
World Rugby

Trae Stevens is a Bermudian local who began his rugby career in his final year of high school and has not looked back. 

He was selected in the U19 Bermuda squad, and today plays tight head prop for the Bermudian Mens national side. 

Last year they won the Rugby Americas North championships, becoming Carribean Champions, edging out Gutaloop, 

Trae has travelled the world playing rugby and is a promising and committed young rugby talent on the island of Bermuda.

I talk to Trae about staying safe in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean in the approaching hurricane, his Rugby passion and career to date, all that Rugby in Bermuda offers him, on and off the pitch, the many countries that play rugby in his part of the world, and his motivations for playing the global game of rugby union.

Never underestimate the strength of a small but motivated rugby team. The first episode of our new Going Global format, today we hop over to Bermuda’s tropical beaches to chat with Jamie Barnwell, head coach for the Bermuda men’s national rugby team. 

Despite having fewer resources and a limited player pool, Bermuda rugby is thriving, in part due to Jamie’s training regime and unassailable optimism. We start our conversation by talking about what Bermuda rugby looks like and how Jamie landed a coaching gig soon after landing in the country. 

Jamie discusses some of his career highlights before reflecting on the differences in coaching in England versus in Bermuda. After Jamie shares his enthusiasm for coaching such a motivated side, we ask him about how the game has grown in the country. His answer touches on how he helped create an elite player development group and how youngsters are being brought into the sport. 

On the topic of his impact, we dive into how Jamie has shifted his team’s culture through
a collaborative coaching style, a focus on staying positive, and developing processes to deal with player mistakes. Near the end of the episode, we talk about what his team’s training regime looks like, the World Rugby Classic Event, and the rugby relationship between Bermuda and its neighbouring countries. A discussion revealing the vitality of Bermudan rugby, tune in to hear more insights from Jamie Barnwell.

Key Points From This Episode:
• Introducing Jamie Barnwell, head coach for the Bermuda men’s national team.
• How having a coffee at a local cafe led to Jamie coaching for Bermuda rugby.
• The state of Bermuda rugby and Jamie’s experience coaching there.
• From England and Malaysia to Bermuda, what coaching means in different countries.
• Creating an elite player development group in Bermuda.
• How the game has been growing for both men and women’s sides in the North Americas.
• Jamie shares his views on what Bermuda needs to go to the next level of rugby.
• Injecting positivity into Bermuda rugby through a collaborative coaching style.
• Developing a process to deal with mistakes — especially if your side often loses.
• Bringing in psychology to build your team’s momentum both off and on the field.
• What a typical week looks like when training the Bermuda national side.
• Hear about the World Rugby Classics, a Bermudan event dedicated to celebrating
international rugby.
• Jamie’s ambitions for the future of Bermuda rugby.
• Local pathways to play Bermudan national rugby and the prevalence of young players.
• The rugby relationship between Bermuda and its neighbouring countries.

“If coaching Bermuda rugby has taught me anything, it’s that you should never underestimate the power of what a small group of motivated people can do.” — Jamie Barnwell [0:05:36]
“We needed to understand how to deal with mistakes. Because if you’re on the losing end of things, you need a process to deal with speed bumps in the game, or you’re going to struggle.” — Jamie Barnwell [0:15:24]

Jamie Barnwell on LinkedIn
Bermuda Rugby
Bermuda Rugby on Facebook
Caribbean Rugby Championship
Rugby Americas North Region
Americas Rugby Championship
Bermuda Olympic Association
World Rugby Classic

Before Phil Thomson took over as CEO, the Brumbies were facing difficult times. They had posted a financial loss for both 2015 and 2016. Today, they boast a tidy profit and increased membership despite the pandemic. In this episode, we speak with experienced manager and Brumbies CEO Phil Thomson about his experience at the Brumbies’ helm and how the club is positioned to tackle the future. After sharing his career highlights, we ask Phil for his take on the Brumbies 2016 instability. We talk about how his time on the police force impacted his role as an integrity manager before he explains how team managers are responsible for everything that happens off-field. Phil discusses his relationship with sponsors and the need to align their interests with your team. On the subject of how the Brumbies increased their membership, Phil dives into the importance of connecting with their community, with added insights into how he’s engaged with this community during the pandemic. He also talks about sharing content that emphasizes the Brumbies’ story and how connecting players with their fanbase has been a key strategy. We explore how their local programs and academy provide pathways to play and Phil’s focus on investing in grassroots rugby. Near the end of the episode, Phil touches on how he’s growing women’s rugby, how the Brumbies make decisions based on their mission statement, and what Australian rugby needs to do to create a brighter future. Tune in to hear Phil’s perspective on the sport — brought to you straight from the CEO’s desk.

Key Points From This Episode:  

• We share Phil Thomson’s many career highlights.
• Why the Brumbies has had such a high CEO turnover over the years.
• What the Brumbies did to turn their tricky financial circumstances around. 
• Exploring Phil’s experience on integrity commissions and in the police force
• Phil’s journey as a team manager and what the role entails.
• Sponsorship struggles and the need to align your interests with your sponsors.
• Engaging with the Brumbies community and how this led to a membership increase.
• What the Brumbies have been doing to connect with their fans.
• Hear Phil’s take on what rugby will look like in 2021.
• Phil answers a looming question; will the Brumbies and the Rebels merge?
• What Brumbies community sport looks like and how it’s managed.
• Participation number and pathways to playing for the Brumbies.
• The importance of connecting your team with the local crowd. 
• Investing in rugby at the grassroots level when funding is limited.
• Pandemic-related stand-downs and soldiering on despite reduced capacity.
• What the Brumbies have done to increase participation in women’s rugby.
• Allowing your mission statement to drive your decision-making.
• What Australian rugby needs; stability, a future-thinking vision, and unity. 

“Our mission statement is to inspire and connect people — it brings people along on our journey and it’s how we tell our story to people.” — Phil Thomson [0:39:20]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Phil Thomson on LinkedIn
Brumbies Rugby
Marist College Canberra
The Coalition of Major Professional and Participation Sports
Australian Federal Police
ACT & Southern NSW Rugby Union Limited Board
Canberra Kookaburras
Brumbies Rugby Foundation

Some of the best referees rarely get noticed. And even if they make the right call, they’re likely to suffer abuse from crowds and players alike. With experience officiating over the highest levels of play, Scott Young is a veteran ref who can attest to being sworn at in several foreign languages. As today’s guest, we speak to Scott about our great sport and his career as a match official. After sharing his humble start as a referee — something he agreed to do at a pub — we talk about how referees train to keep up with players. We then dive into Scott’s career highlights, referee accreditation, and the elements that make up a good referee. He reveals some challenges in being a referee before commenting on Australia’s referee successes, including the rise of women referees. With new rugby rules and variations, we discuss how referees adapt to change and why Scott likes the 50:22 rule. Following the topic of rule changes, we ask Scott about the state of the scrum and his answer provides insight into how difficult scrums are to rule on. We touch on why referees can be over-technical, Scott’s perspective on blue and yellow cards, how the press amplifies incorrect information, and the level of support offered to Australian referees. Near the end of the episode, we explore Scott’s role in developing strategies for sevens rugby before we ask Scott what he would do to improve rugby. Tune in to hear more of Scott’s views on high-performance refereeing.  

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Scott became a match official and what he loves about refereeing.
• Training, fitness and decision-making ability as a high-performance referee.
• Hear about the highlights of Scott’s refereeing career. 
• Referee accreditation and the importance of progressive learning.
• Challenges to growing the number of match officials.
• How referees are adapting to new rugby rules and variations.
• Why Scott likes the new 50:22 rule; it increases the ball-in-play time. 
• Tracking referee success and the many aspects that go into judging a game. 
• Establish a World Cup standard for interpreting rugby laws. 
• What referees look for in a scrum and how it can remain a showpiece.
• Why referees can be overly-technical in their decision-making.
• Maintaining respect among players and referees.
• Why referees don’t aim to be loved.
• Scott’s support of the blue card and the dangers of concussion. 
• Using yellow cards to prevent ‘cynical’ play and keep the game safe. 
• Supporting officials and coming under fire after making high-stakes decisions. 
• Investing in referee coach programs; there are now more Australian refs fielded overseas than ever before.  
• Refereeing sevens versus 15 a side rugby and Scott’s contributions to each game’s officiating strategies.
• What Scott would change in rugby to cause the most impact. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Scott Young LinkedIn

Rugby Australia

University of Queensland

King’s College

St Leo’s College

Queensland Reds

From country Tamworth, Mitchell Watts attends Calrossy School, where he has just completed his year 12 trials. He plays for the Tamworth Magpies in the second row. He was selected for Central North, NSW Country and the the NSW Junior Rugby Union U18’s. Mitch is beginning on his pathway to professionalism, but first hopes to achieve the marks to study commerce /law at university. I talk to the modest and self deprecating Mitch about rugby and his experiences so far in rugby union.

2017 was a transformative year for the Melbourne Rebels. Having survived being axed from Super Rugby, they also transitioned from being privately owned to joining the Victoria Rugby Union stable. In today’s episode, we speak with Baden Stephenson about his greatest challenges and achievements since becoming the Rebels CEO in 2017. Considering the uncertainty of the time, Baden talks about his early priority in quickly building trust among stakeholders. Reflecting on the ‘start-up’ nature of the 2017 transitions, Baden highlights the importance of developing a club from the ground up. On the topic of sponsors, we talk about modern approaches to corporate partnerships, which involves aligning brands with your team’s culture. After sharing how the Rebels have been affected by COVID-19, Baden dives into his efforts in fostering the club’s accessibility and how management staff and players have helped grow community rugby. Baden then shares his perspective on Western Force getting cut from Super Rugby before touching on how the Rebels have developed talent and bring in local players. We discuss what Baden is hoping for in a new Rugby Australia CEO and why we need more positive messaging in the media. Near the end of the episode, Baden gives his insights on how we can make the game better for both broadcasters and viewers. Tune in to hear Baden’s fresh take on how we can improve the sport. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Baden shares his greatest achievements and challenges as CEO for the Melbourne Rebels.
• Connecting the Melbourne Rebels with the local community.
• What the Melbourne Rebels ownership and governance model has looked like. 
• The importance of spending the capital to properly set up a new club.
• The need to align sponsors with your club’s culture and players.
• Using corporate partnerships to expand community rugby. 
• How COVID-19 has affected the Melbourne Rebels. 
• Players as club ambassadors who connect with sponsors and the community.
• Creating a holistic rugby environment where top clubs can support local rugby. 
• Baden’s perspective surrounding Western Force getting cut from Super Rugby.
• Developing next-level talent without the NRC and bringing in local players.
• What Baden is hoping for in a new Rugby Australia CEO.
• Making the game more appealing for both broadcasters and watchers. 
• The future of Super Rugby and Australia’s place in the world of rugby. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: 

Baden Stephenson on LinkedIn

Baden Stephenson on Twitter

Melbourne Rebels

Rugby Victoria

Rugby Australia

Western Force

National Rugby Championship

SAANZAAR

We talk with Josephine Sukkar, Principal of Buildcorp about Rugby Australia’s incredible opportunity to redefine our approach to the sport and meet the challenges of modern rugby. Tied to this is the need to build greater inclusivity into the game, especially increasing women’s participation. A member of the Order of Australia, Buildcorp principle, and president of Australian Women’s Rugby, Josephine is an important rugby sponsor who has been integral in advocating for women’s rugby. We start our conversation by chatting about what sparked her passion for rugby and her company’s involvement in the sport. Josephine talks about witnessing the change in visibility for women’s games and the power that sevens rugby and the Super W competition has had in popularising women’s rugby. After opening up about why she pulled her sponsorship from the National Rugby Championship in 2017, we dive into her experience of sitting on the 2015 Rugby Australia nomination board. As Josephine explains, poor participation from key stakeholders led to false perceptions about the transparency of Rugby Australia’s nomination process. This leads to a discussion about the negative effects of having a divided rugby community. Josephine then reflects on the state of Australian rugby and how our federation system needs to adapt to ensure better sponsorship and to field more competitive teams — on both a national and international level. Near the end of the episode, we touch on the importance of Australia’s 2027 World Cup bid in providing vision for Rugby Australia. Tune in to hear more of Josephine’s insider-perspectives on Australian rugby. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Hear about how Josephine developed her passion for rugby.
• Josephine’s journey sponsoring rugby starting in 1992, and why she likes giving to club rugby.
• The heightened importance of team or player behaviour in affecting sponsorship.
• Being on the front-lines of making women’s rugby more visible. 
• The importance of women’s sevens rugby in the Olympics for popularising the sport.
• Using sponsorship to nurture aspects of the game that are underdeveloped. 
• Why Buildcorp pulled their sponsorship from the NRC in 2017.
• Josephine shares her perspective on the Rugby Australia nomination process.
• False perceptions around the transparency of the Rugby Australia nomination process.
• Highlighting the need for workable solutions and not behaviour that destroys the game.
• Thoughts on Rugby Australia’s evolution, governing body, and structure.
• Why now is the time to have hard conversations and reimagine union rugby. 
• How ‘corporate courage’ and supporting leadership will allow rugby to survive. 
• Rebuilding trust in Rugby Australia through their new chair and CEO.
• Why the 2027 World Cup bid is providing vision for Australian rugby. 
• The work of the Buildcorp Foundation in giving back to the community. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sydney University Football Club Foundation

Australian Rugby Foundation 

Buildcorp Foundation

Rugby Australia

The Wallaroos

University of Sydney

Rockdale Rugby Union

Super W

AON Uni 7s

National Rugby Championship

Amazing Grace: Women’s Rugby with Grace Hamilton.

Despite having a relatively late start in rugby, Grace Hamilton’s commitment to the sport and excellence on the field led her to be named the 2019 Wallaroo of the year. 

In this episode, we speak with Grace about women’s rugby, her career and leadership challenges, and the future of the sport. 

We begin by talking about her start in rugby before diving into her career milestones.
Grace attributes her success to her drive to see how far she can push herself. We ask Grace about the difficulties of playing women’s rugby and she comments on how empowering the sport is for women. 

After discussing what it was like to train while studying her Master’s degree, we
talk about what the rest of 2020 looks like for women’s Australian rugby. As the Wallaroo
captain, she opens up about the difficulties of keeping her team motivated during the pandemic.

Grace also opens up about losing her father, her bedrock of support, while achieving some of her career highlights. With a focus on the future, Grace shares what she would do if she had a magic wand to grow the game for women in Australia before sharing her advice for young women who aspire to play rugby. Tune in to hear more about women’s rugby — an aspect of the sport that’s seeing an incredible uptake.

Key Points From This Episode:

Grace shares her love of rugby and what brought her to the sport at a young age.

Milestones in Grace’s career including being named the 2019 Wallaroo of the year.

Finding success, despite starting rugby at a relatively late stage.

Why rugby is an excellent sport for women to play.

What it was like for Grace to train for rugby while studying her Master’s.

What the end of 2020 looks like for women’s Australian rugby.

Maintaining discipline and motivation despite an uncertain future.

Playing as number 8 and the skills that Grace focuses on.

Leadership challenges and what Grace has learned from captaining the Wallaroos.

Why women’s sevens rugby has helped fuel the uptake in women’s rugby.

The importance of creating grassroots opportunities for women’s rugby.

Grace’s advice to aspiring young women who want to play rugby.

Getting back onto the field after losing her father.

The people who most inspire Grace to eventually “leave her jersey in a better place.”

What Grace would do if she were given a magic wand to improve women’s rugby.

The benefits of the Super W competition for women’s rugby.

“I was 21 when I first put on my rugby boots. Once I put my boots on, I never took them off.” — @GracieJHamilton [0:05:05]

“Young women should give it a go. Even if you don’t know if you want to play, head over to a training session and watch. You’ll see how fun it can be.” — @GracieJHamilton [0:16:12]

“I thrive over people who are passionate about the game. It makes me want to leave my jersey in a better place and make those girls proud.” — @GracieJHamilton [0:19:35]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Grace Hamilton on LinkedIn
Grace Hamilton on Twitter
Wallaroos
Rugby Australia
Black Ferns
2021 Rugby World Cup
Super W

Phil Waugh was able to follow a clear pathway from being a ballboy and then playing for the Warringah Rats to eventually joining the Wallabies. These days the connection between community and professional rugby aren’t as clear. In today’s episode, we talk with Phil about the importance of grassroots rugby and we ask Phil, a non-executive director for Rugby Australia, for insights on where the organisation is headed. 

Phil discusses the challenges that Rugby Australia is facing and how it’s leaving stormy waters and shifting its attention from addressing controversy and back onto the game. Reflecting on the tenure of ex-Rugby Australia CEO, Raelene Castle, Phil provides an optimistic view on why the community was so polarized — it shows how much Australians care about the game. 

After chatting about what Phil is looking for in a new Rugby Australia CEO, we look at the struggles that they will need to overcome. Mirroring the conversations that we’ve had in our previous episodes, Phil agrees that investing in grassroots rugby should be Rugby Australia’s number one priority. Phil then provides his take on why the 2027 World Cup bid is so important for community rugby before explaining why making domestic rugby the best in the world will solve all of Australian rugby’s financial woes. Tune in to hear more of Phil’s insider perspectives on the world of rugby! 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• How important club and school rugby was to Phil’s childhood.
• The need to connect community rugby back to professional rugby.
• Unblurring the lines when having young players represent their community.  
• Phil’s experience working within Rugby Australia and the challenges they’ve faced.
• How the polarized reactions to Raelene Castle’s tenure shows how much people care about the game.
• What rugby is to Phil; “our game is about community.”
• What Phil is looking for in a new Rugby Australia CEO and why the job is so difficult. 
• Hear how far along Rugby Australia is in appointing a new CEO.
• Why investing in grassroots rugby is Rugby Australia’s number one priority.      
• What Rugby Australia’s mission should be regarding the sport. 
• Questions around if investing in the 2027 World Cup bid is a reasonable use of funds. 
• How to keep players happy, remunerated, and playing in Australia.
• Why increasing the calibre of Australian rugby will bring money back to the sport.
• How discussions with broadcasters have been progressing.
• What Phil would do if he were appointed CEO of Rugby Australia.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Phil Waugh LinkedIn

Narrabeen Tigers

Warringah Rats

The Shore School