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Thread: AN OPEN LETTER TO EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE MEMBERS FROM RUGBYWA CEO, GREG HARRIS

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    (formerly known as Coach) Your Humble Servant Darren's Avatar
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    AN OPEN LETTER TO EMIRATES WESTERN FORCE MEMBERS FROM RUGBYWA CEO, GREG HARRIS

    Dear valued Emirates Western Force members,

    Firstly, I’d like to thank each of you for your loyal and outstanding support of the Emirates Western Force.

    Having spent my entire life on the east coast and being a newcomer to this beautiful state in the west, the first thing I noticed after commencing as CEO of RugbyWA was how proud and passionate the Emirates Western Force members are.

    ‘The sea of blue’ is renowned across the competition as being the most vocal and enthusiastic crowd in the Investec Super 14 and we are honoured to boast the largest membership base of any rugby team in the country.

    With three enthralling years in our history books, we look forward to season 2009 with huge anticipation.

    I wanted to take this opportunity as we begin our preparations for the new season to update you on a number of matters currently being addressed at RugbyWA.

    You will be aware that there have been speculative reports in the news about player unrest at our club.

    The organisation has recently completed an annual review on all areas of our business, including professional rugby.

    As part of this process we have received some feedback both constructive and positive from our players on aspects of the rugby program, including our coaching structure and strategies.

    I can assure you that the entire organisation is committed to strengthening our rugby program and most importantly helping the Emirates Western Force to perform at the highest level, and we are confident that we are putting the right steps in place to ensure that is possible.

    You would also be aware of reports recently about one of our major sponsors, Firepower, failing to honour sponsorship commitments with RugbyWA and third party arrangements with a handful of Emirates Western Force players.

    RugbyWA is doing everything possible to assist players who were affected by the Firepower fallout to secure alternative arrangements with respect to third party sponsorships.

    While Firepower is lost to us as a sponsor, we have already announced a replacement sleeve sponsor in Volvo Car Australia.

    We are delighted to have Volvo on board as a platinum sponsor for the next three seasons and we are also pleased to announce ET Mining Hire & Sales as a jersey sponsor for 2009.

    ET Mining Hire & Sales have been outstanding supporters of rugby in WA for a number of years and this will be enhanced in 2009 when the company logo is splashed across the back of the Emirates Western Force jersey.

    With our loyal naming rights sponsor Emirates renewing until the end of 2011, the club is in a strong position ‘off the field’ as we continue our push for a maiden finals appearance on the field.

    Much of our off-season has been spent solidifying our roster for the 2009 season, with a focus on retaining the young talent we have at the club.

    Two of our brightest young talents, David Pocock and James O’Connor, extended their contracts with the Emirates Western Force this year and later this month will make their first tour as Wallabies on the Spring Tour of Europe.

    The debut of Richard Brown in the Tri Nations decider, followed by the introduction of these two youngsters, has only enhanced the reputation of the Emirates Western Force as a breeding ground for future Wallabies.

    Coupled with the retention of key senior players over the past 12 months, including Scott Staniforth, Nathan Sharpe, Ryan Cross and Cameron Shepherd, the future certainly is bright.

    We have also bolstered our playing list for 2009 with the addition of four-Test scrumhalf Josh Valentine, who we believe will compliment our style of play and become an influential member of the team.

    As well as strengthening our playing personnel, we are exploring other means of improving our rugby program.

    We have recently engaged Leading Teams, a company that specialises in building and improving team culture, to assist us with developing leadership and unity in the organisation.

    Leading Teams has worked successfully with AFL Grand Finalists Hawthorn and Geelong and we are looking forward to having them work with our organisation from November.

    Additionally we are set to announce in the next month the appointment of a sports psychologist who will work with the team throughout the season.

    We are also focused on assisting our players outside of the rugby program with their education and welfare.

    We have agreed in principal with RUPA to establish a full-time careers and education position at RugbyWA, which is a high priority for the organisation given the large number of players who relocate to WA from the east coast and whom are often leaving their families for the first time.

    Another major event on the horizon for RugbyWA is the relocation of our team and administration from our current facilities at Perry Lakes.

    Following 12 months of planning for a move to a site in Mount Claremont, we learned recently that an issue with soil contamination will prevent the state government from building a purpose-built facility at the proposed site.

    Despite this setback, we have had some extremely positive discussions with the government and we are confident of securing a new site to build new facilities and complete our relocation by mid to late 2010.

    Still in the forefront of our minds is that a crucial element in the successful long-term viability of the Emirates Western Force is securing a rectangular Stadium to host our home games.

    We are continuing to lobby the government on this issue and the RugbyWA Board has confirmed its support for an upgrade to Members Equity Stadium to increase its seating capacity to 25,000 with 2,000 seats for corporate supporters.

    We have approached the Minister for Sport, Terry Waldron, following this commitment by the board and have been provided with an opportunity to meet with him to discuss the proposal further.

    As is plainly evident, the organisation is facing a number of significant challenges, however we strongly believe that we will come out of this tough period all the stronger and with our future intact.

    The support of our key stakeholders, members and sponsors is vital for us to overcome these challenges. Equally important is that we maintain that support through our 2009 campaign at Subiaco Oval.

    The 2009 season presents the Emirates Western Force with a wonderful opportunity to stake our claim as the best team in the country and to break through for our first finals appearance with the introduction of the six-team finals series.

    Once again we thank your for support and for taking the time to read this letter.

    Regards

    Greg Harris
    CEO
    RugbyWA


    Members Email, 16-10-2008

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    Legend Contributor slomo's Avatar
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    got this email this afternoon, nothing new.......

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    Immortal Contributor shasta's Avatar
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    Hmmm........ that was not exactly an emphatic rebuttal of the player unrest speculation.

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    Legend Contributor Flamethrower's Avatar
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    Important people get it emailed direct to them.

    Others have to look at TWF.

    I got it emailed

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    Veteran force addict's Avatar
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    no mention of signing Playford or Stanford.

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    Legend Contributor Thequeerone's Avatar
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    Disagree - wonderful to see him actually do this and acknowledge the difficulties that they face - with player relocation, AK Reserve and the support of the board for ME upgrade (this is the first public statement I've seen about this)

    Good on him - the less rumour and conjecture (other than team lists) the better

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    Legend Contributor brokendown gunfighter's Avatar
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    so,where are the new headquarters to be located?

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    Champion lara93's Avatar
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    they are moving south of challege stadium

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    BOKKE
    “Let me put it this way, A Springbok team contains Afrikaners, Englishmen, coloureds and blacks. It has parochial foes in Bulls, Sharks, Stormers, Cheetahs and Lions. It is a recipe for war! Yet in all the years of John Smit’s captaincy, there has never been one unhappy customer, not one voice of rebellion against his leadership. He is the glue that holds the Springboks together. The man is a legend!”- Jake White

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    Had a long chat with our new man at JBs 3 weeks ago, who was dining there and went outside for a gasper and spotted me with the Force windcheater on.Struck me as a switched on dude. Has seriously good contacts with those wankers over east.I was well impressed with him. His biggest concern is Subi oval,not Firepower and the ramifications of that.

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    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
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    I agree with the man on the stadium issue and am drafting an email as we speak........figuratively of course!

    Email sent, committee members can view the text on WNC.

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    Last edited by GIGS20; 17-10-08 at 08:23. Reason: update
    C'mon the

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    Veteran Contributor The EnForcer's Avatar
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    You know, no matter what he wrote there would always be people seeing negatives. I thought it was a positive letter indicating a proactive organisation with its finger on the pulse. Well done to Greg Harris for recognising the need to keep members informed.

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    Player Contributor joblot's Avatar
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    Thumbs up

    Good on him - the less rumour and conjecture (other than team lists) the better
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    I wholeheartedly agree.

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    Senior Player Bronski Beat's Avatar
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    They need a new coach, this one is holding back creativity and is not well regarded. Link at the Force would have worked.

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    Hasta la vista Pam

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    Legend Contributor Flamethrower's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bronski Beat View Post
    They need a new coach, this one is holding back creativity and is not well regarded. Link at the Force would have worked.
    Is that just your opinion or do you have some inside knowledge to justify trying to keep that very old rumor alive??

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    Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.

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    Senior Player Bronski Beat's Avatar
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    Call it what you will.

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    Hasta la vista Pam

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