The Board of the New South Wales Rugby Union has today announced the appointment of Bruce Worboys as its new Executive Director.
Charged with growing and enhancing the game at a community level in NSW, Mr Worboys’ role will largely cover the health of the grassroots game in NSW encompassing everything from participation numbers across all regions and all levels, to ensuring development officers in the field are making an impact across the state.
“The Board has undertaken a rigorous recruitment process and we have no doubt that Bruce Worboys is the right person to take on this new role,” said Will Jephcott, NSWRU Chairman. “Bruce’s experience in administration at the grassroots of the game spans almost 30 years and he has an intimate knowledge of the areas of the sport which we need to concentrate on.”
The position of NSWRU Executive Director was created following a restructure of community and professional Rugby in NSW over the last twelve months. Waratahs Rugby Pty Ltd has been granted a license to administer all aspects of professional Rugby, while NSWRU remains in charge of the game as a whole.
“While the organisations may be separate, they are indeed very tightly linked and it’s important that we have a leader who has a strong working relationship with the Waratahs Board and its CEO,” said Mr Jephcott. “The overall strength of the community and professional games affect each other greatly.
“We need to work to ensure both are strong and we know Bruce comes to the organisation with the experience and energy to keep the game strong and growing.”
Commencing his association with the game behind the scenes 1982, Mr Worboys previously worked for the NSWRU from 1996 to 2000 as Country Rugby Union Executive Officer and later Rugby Operations Manager, with his responsibilities in these roles forming much of his new position.
In 2002 Mr Worboys joined the Board of the NSW Country Rugby Union as a Director and in 2005 became Vice President. For the last three years he has been President of the NSWCRU. In 2009 Mr Worboys was elected to the NSWRU Board and is also currently a delegate to the ARU.
“Season 2011 is going to be a big year in Rugby both on and off the field so there couldn’t be a better time to step into the role,” said Mr Worboys. “Having spent so much time in Rugby administration for many years, most recently on the NSWRU and Country Boards, I understand how competitive the sporting environment is at a community level and acknowledge the areas which need some attention.
“We need to capitalise on that interest at the community level. We need to lift interest in the game, grow participation, create some real excitement and that will be one of my major roles as Executive Director.”
Mr Worboys will commence at NSWRU early in 2011.