To all our supporter’s, sponsors and followers,
I just wanted to reach out to all those of you that support or follow Swansea RFC in any way to give you an update on what’s been happening at St Helen’s during this very strange time.
I appreciate that I and the board have been very quiet these last few months. However, that doesn’t mean we have been in hibernation. There has been a lot of work going on to try to safely steer Swansea RFC through the Covid crises and the pre-existing financial stresses challenging the world of rugby.
As our plans are beginning to reach some conclusions, I will be reaching out to you as sponsors and supporters individually over the next few weeks to outline our plans and thoughts about how we take this great club forward into what I believe will be a challenging but exciting future.
What I can announce so far is that our Managing Director Keith Colclough has instructed Head Coach Hugh Gustafson working with Team Manger JP and fellow board member Paul Whapham to start assembling the squad for the next season. As the WRU is working hard to develop a structure for next season under Welsh Government guidelines and working with World Rugby, we cannot yet announce when the squad will start training. What we can say is that we will be ready to go as soon we receive guidance from the WRU.
You will be aware that there has been some very exciting news at the Ospreys during the close season. The board of Swansea RFC have been made aware of the ambitions of the new owners for the Ospreys. We will be working with the Ospreys management over the coming weeks on how we work together in the future. As these exciting opportunities are finalised, I will be making further announcements. I would like to thank current Chairman Robert Davies and previous Chairman Mike James for their long history of supporting rugby in Swansea.
On more practical matters, the clubhouse is undergoing some unseen improvements. Over the last few years, the usage of St Helen’s has increased dramatically, with our new Women’s team and closer links with Swansea Schoolboy’s and Swansea University. To that end Alun Donovan with funding from the WRU and the board, has overseen the building of additional changing rooms. One of which will be sited in the club gym. With its shower capability it will make the gym a better facility as well. It is hoped that these additional resources will allow multi match competitions at the ground and schoolboy games to be played as openers for the first team. I would like to thank the WRU for its continued support of club improvements through its grant scheme.
I apologise if we seem as a board to have been quiet lately, but it has always been my philosophy to only speak when I have something concrete to announce. In the coming weeks as the squad is assembled and commercial deals signed off, we will keep everyone up to date.
It is the fervent hope of the board of Swansea RFC that we can all meet up again in the weeks and months to come to enjoy the sport and friendships we have so missed. We will need to do this slowly and in keeping with all government guidance but there will be a time when our community can return to St Helen’s to once again live life to the full.
My thoughts are with you all and hope you are all safe and well.
Stephen Hughes
Chairman Swansea RFC