Welcome to Wanneroo Rugby Club, 2022.

I’d like to kick off the year with a high level overview of where we are hoping to get to in the next 12 months. I have also invited Josh Yoder, our Senior President, and Andy Bell, our Junior President, to provide you with updates specific to their areas of the club.

Firstly we have to discuss the old enemy – Covid 19.

This is the third year we have lived with this threat, in year one we saw a much shortened season, and a 25% drop in players across the club. As we were unable to open the club or hold events, the club had to run in a “Keep the Lights on” frame of mind, and last year, although better, we still had our fair share of disappointments and setbacks as we all endured tactical lockdowns, and restrictions.

In 2022 we fully expect the same level of disruption, we are already seeing restrictions for everyone around mask wearing, and social distancing, this will apply everyone in the reserve for the foreseeable future; so when you are in the grounds, have a mask handy for when you have to enter the clubhouse, and when out around the paddock, be mindful of the 1.5m rule and social distancing requirements.

The big change this year applies to those of you who are not vaccinated. Right now the rules for Community sport venues are that we have to check certificates and restrict access to the Bar and Food services within the club, however we do not have to check Vax status of players.

I would not assume this will remain the case. There is an ongoing tightening of rules around when vaccination certificates need to be seen, and I would expect a direction to come down from RugbyAU, based on the WA State Government guidelines, if and when we see a significant uptick in local Omicron cases.

If you want a full season of rugby, I would ask you please to get your jabs. Regardless of when the rules change – when they do, I do not want to have to tell any of our Roodog army that they cannot come down and play, support or enjoy the sport we all love.

I understand that this is a personal choice, however please understand that if the Government change the rules, our hands are tied as to how we enforce them – we will not risk the clubs licence to operate, or our right to our home, by flouting Covid rules for players.

If you have any event ideas or suggestions, please reach out, we are always looking to add fresh ideas and improve on old ones.

So far we have had a brilliant end of season Touch Finals / Christmas Party (Santa was particularly awesome this year😉), a great Western Force Trial day at the club and a massive 3 day 7’s competition in January – so our year of rugby celebrations and growth are already off and running.

 Both the Touch Final and the 7’s competition  are inaugural events we have launched and fully intend to become annual marquee events for the club – we are keen to grow both our touch and 7’s profiles over the next few years.

Building our new clubhouse

Finally I would like to discuss our new home. For a lot of you I hear a familiar sigh and shake of the head, I have been talking about this for 4 years now, however I am feeling that a confluence of positive events are happening right now that will drive us to the finish line this year. I am working on the assumption that 2022 will be the year we build our new home, and become the pre-eminent Rugby facility in Western Australia, so this is a call to arms for everyone.

I would like to gather together three teams to help drive this to the next level, and I need your help;

1. Architects, builders, Tradies that have the time to form a team to take our club plans, and take them to the next level of detail, plan the power, plumbing, storage, etc, and work closely with our architects to get the design docs and plan ready for build;

2. A team to run with the clubrooms design and fit out, how best can we use the internal space, what furniture do we need there, what will we use the rooms for etc. etc. etc.

3. A team to run the final design and fit out plan for our Gym, ditto the requirements above.

 The Board and I are fully focussed an getting this over the line, and we all understand that what we do now is for the next generations of Roodogs and Divaz, and for the next 50 years, so, as its your club, and we are merely appointed officials elected to do the best for the club on your behalf, its time for you all to find your voices, get involved, and have your say.

And lastly..

Good luck to all our players, coaches, Managers and everyone else in the club – remember, its our 50th, and I want you all to bring me home some silverware this year – we are building a new trophy cabinet especially 😊…..

As a good friend of mine always used to say – the easy day was yesterday – Today the real work begins.

Yours sincerely

Start Verden

Club Chairman