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AUSTRALIA'S second oldest rugby club Hunters Hill has received a major boost for its 2002 Kentwell Cup campaign by securing a new $20,000 sponsorship deal with Woolwich Pier Hotel.
The deal is a great fillip for the Hillies - who are celebrating 110 years in Sydney rugby - as they prepare for Saturday's premiership pipe opener against traditional rivals Drummoyne Dirty Reds at Drummoyne Oval.
Marketing manager Nick Wills said the Hotel's cash and kind package was designed to promote community support for the club and responsible service of alcohol.
A key feature of the sponsorship package is the provision of a double decker courtesy bus with driver to transport players and supporters after games to minimise drink driving and ensure players and supporters get home safely.
Hunters Hill Rugby Club president Phil Shorten (right) welcomes Woolwich Pier Hotel marketing manager Nick Wills to Hillies territory. The Hotel will sponsor the Club to the tune of $20,000 this year. TWT on-the-spot PHOTO.
NEW owners of Woolwich Pier Hotel are sponsoring Hunters Hill Rugby Club this season in a $20 000 cash and kind package designed to promote community support for the club and responsible service of alcohol.
The sponsorship - believed to be one of the biggest given to a northern suburbs sporting body - is expected to lead to further community sponsorships and involvement by the hotel in local sporting and community groups.
A key feature of the sponsorship package is the provision of a double decker courtesy bus with driver to transport players and supporters after games to minimise drink driving and ensure players and supporters get home safely.
The group also own the Commodore Hotel in North Sydney, Ashfield Hotel, Five Dock Hotel and Grove Hotel Kingsgrove and each of the hotels sponsor a local community sporting team in similar vein as part of their commitment to their local communities.
Woolwich Pier marketing manager Nick Wills said that his Hotel was committed to working with community groups and local sporting clubs in Sydney's suburbs to foster community spirit and involvement.
"But we're rugby fanatics and as the Woolwich Pier is the premier hotel in our chain we're committed to arguably Sydney's premier community Rugby club - the second oldest in Australia and almost as old as our hotel.
"In addition to us following our local club, Hillies players and locals can join us to watch the Super 12 and Wallaby matches on our new outdoor big screen," he said.
Another key element of the package is the club's free use of the hotel function rooms which are being refurbished as part of a major renovation and the creation of a Rugby Room replete with memorabilia for club player and management meetings.
Sponsorship also includes free sporting kits for players including kit bags.
Woolwich Pier will also host a sponsors lunch for the club during the season.
Nick says the provision of the courtesy bus although costly was a key element in promoting responsible use and service of alcohol.
"The courtesy bus is not just for the Rugby Club but the community at large. Whole idea is to ensure that people who may be over the limit get home safely because our view is that our responsibilities don't stop when our patrons leave our front door."
Community groups and locals interested in using the courtesy bus should contact the staff at Woolwich Pier Hotel.
REVITALISED Hunters Hill Rugby Union Football Club has had the biggest player influx in its 110-year history this year - with more than 30 per cent of those registering for the coming season being new players.
The club is fielding 100 senior and 240 junior players from its base at Boronia Park Oval (corner Ryde and Park roads Hunters Hill).
Senior club president Phil Shorten said the response from northern suburbs communities to the club's recruitment drive was heartening and reflected the major force that rugby now is in northern suburbs sport.
"As a result of our concerted recruiting drive we now have a depth and range of talent in all senior and junior grades that augurs well for this year's results and for the club's long term future,' he said.
"There are still places for players and coaches but they're filling fast so people need to act quickly if they want to be a part of the Sydney's premier suburban club.'
Shorten said that in seniors there was now a wealth of talent through all grades, from first grade down.
"Our first grade squad includes former Randwick half back Chris Atkins, ex Tonga national team captain Lonnie Katoa and local goal scoring machine Carl Bird who scored 200 points last season. Talented second rower Wayne Africa returns after a brief stint with Parramatta and Anthony Mork is back after two years in the United States' said Phil.
"There's a similar wealth of talent in our lower grades."
Hunters Hill RUFC is the second oldest rugby club in Australia and the most successful in suburban Rugby history fielding five senior teams, a Golden Oldies side and junior teams from Under 7s to Under 15s and lives up to its motto Facta Non Verba (Deeds Not Words) with consistent competition wins.
Recent successes include five grand final appearances in the past six years and the 2001 minor premiership in Kentwell Cup.
The club is linked with clubs in England, Argentina, Italy, New Zealand and South Africa while the Australian 'Rugby' Legends are also affiliated with Hunters Hill rugby, enabling club members to play all over the world.
HUNTERS Hill Rugby Club is implementing a strategic management plan to achieve its vision to make the 'Hillies' the suburban club of choice for northern suburbs players with developed facilities and ensured continuing financial security.
But Seniors secretary Michael McNamara said while the management plan was necessary to ensure the club's future the 'Hillies' would maintain its values of fellowship on and off the paddock and its suburban amateur status as a local community club.
"It is important that always we accommodate players who wish to continue their rugby without the pressures of playing at professional level,' he said.
The new management plan is being developed by the club's executive through a process of collaboration and consultation with players, parents, supporters and community groups to achieve consensus on the way forward.
A key facet of the process is community-based workshops to identify and resolve issues and ensure a unified approach on how to achieve long-term viability and support, suitable facilities at Boronia Park and a long-term home.
Next workshop will be held in the Rugby Room at Woolwich Pier Hotel later this month and is expected to provide outcomes for submissions to Hunters Hill Council and sponsors.
McNamara said a major objective was to provide a community environment where young players can enter the rugby culture, develop player skills and advance through the club or to higher grade levels and Super 12.
"To achieve this we've established a strong communications base including media cover and our web site to ensure open, frank interaction between the club and our community support base," he said.
"Equally, the club recognises the imperative that we continue to provide a fellowship environment for players and supporters that provides for a long-term association."
"To do this we need to provide more suitable playing and recreation facilities for players and supporters and attract greater financial and active support from sponsors to enable players to continue with the club' he said.
"We're looking at establishing a HHRUFC Supporters Club to help us with rugby and social activities; possibly twinning our club with a First Division or an international club to benefit our players and supporters through the interaction on and off the paddock with a range of social functions; considering appointing player representatives on management sub-committees; setting up the first ever HHRUC Womens team and giving more support to our Golden Oldies side."
HUNTERS Hill Rugby Club has introduced a Talented Player Program to help develop selected players' potential to achieve State or national Rugby selection and attain work skills for use in Australia or their country of origin.
The program, part of the club's new strategic management plan, is designed to attract and retain high-calibre local and other players to ensure critical short term competitiveness and long term player development in the 'rugby club of choice.'
For almost a decade HHRUFC has been sourcing sponsors to assist players with their travel, education and accommodation needs. This type of sponsorship has only been available to selected players due to limited funds.
"Individual sponsorships being limited to only a handful of players can cause undesirable dynamics within the club membership among players and officials - especially when the details of such arrangements are not clear, ' says Seniors president Phil Shorten.
'As a result we're dealing with the issue pro-actively as we strive to become a 'club of choice' and ensuring that fairness and transparency are key principles to be applied," he said.
Program will be limited to two players per season and from one to three seasons and to a total of five players at any one time.
FORMER Northern Suburbs coach Tony Brunsdon has brought a new dimension to coaching across the face of Hunters Hill Rugby Club.
Through his phases on fitness, strict training regimens, starting and finishing times and widespread use of grids and structured drills the respected coach has the Hillies in fine fettle for the 2002 NSW Suburban competition.
Brunsdon has been streaming players in readiness for Gradings Night and players have been delighted at the benefits they've gained from the structure and discipline.
Tony is ably assisted by ex first grade coach Charlie 'Chikka' Reynolds who travels from near Goulburn for training and matches.
"Chikka will continue to develop the players and coaches' understanding of game plans and tactics in conjunction with Tony' said Club president Phil Shorten.
"One of our goals this year is to have greater coaching depth through each of the grades and this is now being achieved under the two senior coaches' supervision,' he added.
HUNTERS Hill Rugby club has been invited to participate in the 2003 Wellington International Club Tens next February following its spectacular involvement in this year's inaugural tournament.
In his letter of invitation, tournament director Andrew Sturgeon said he wished to personally thank HHRUFC for "making the huge effort to come across the Tasman to participate".
"Although we had a number of offshore players in the tournament, Hunters Hill was the only offshore club to compete" he said.
"Hunters Hill got into the spirit and their contribution to two days of successful rugby was enormous and much appreciated."
The Hunters Hill team - captained by ex Randwick first grader Chris Atkins and including Jason Gaff, Marcus Seu Seu, Tim Anaslie, Eric Brown and Carl Bird - stood out in their 22-17 quarter final loss to former Hong Kong Tens champions WASPS. New Legends side in the competition was captained by former Hunters Hill fullback and five-eighth Corey Brown, brother of current All Black Tony Brown.
MORE than 85 fathers and sons involved in Hunters Hill junior teams - Under 7s to Under 15s - recently held their 'best ever' weekend Orientation Camp at the Sydney Academy of Sport at Narrabeen.
The annual camp facilitated by the NSWRU provides concentrated coaching for new players and familiarisation both on and off the paddock.
Fathers also were given referee training in a highly successful Pathway referees course through the NSW Referees Association over the weekend.
MEANWHILE Hunters Hill Juniors will host the NSW Under 14 Championships at Boronia Park Ovals during the June long weekend.
Juniors Club president Neil Peppitt says he expects a high standard in this year's series.
For the first time in 30 years HHRUFC Juniors will field an U/15 team in the Metropolitan North Zone competition following a successful recruitment drive.
Coach Liam Cooper is confident the team will perform well in this year's competition following successful pre-season trials and early fitness training.