By Jon Geddes

RUGBY Australia CEO Phil Waugh returned to his roots by getting out and supporting the Shute Shield as an ordinary punter with his family on Saturday.

With no fanfare, the man who has the toughest job in Australian sport sat on the hill at Rat Park and watched a red-hot Warringah outfit put Sydney University to the sword 50-14.

“I had the afternoon off work,” Waugh told Rugby News. “So I brought the kids down, sat on the hill and enjoyed a good afternoon of club rugby - and had a good time with the Hillbillies.”

It was so refreshing to see the man charged with re-invigorating the code return to where it all started for him and experience the unique atmosphere of club rugby surrounded by diehard supporters, who have often felt disenfranchised under some of game’s previous leadership.