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.

“This is the heart and soul of Australian rugby,” Waugh said.

“We just need to make sure we connect the amateur game and professional game as much as we can.

“There is still a long way to go, but it’s certainly my intent.”             

SHUTING FOR THE STARS 

UNLIKE some of his predecessors, Waugh has a genuine appreciation of the important role the premiership competitions in Sydney and Brisbane play in the rugby landscape, having worked his way up from the club level into the Wallabies.

“I’ve always been a big believer in getting your best players into Shute Shield, it’s a really good standard and we’ve got some good players coming through,” he said.

Waugh said that Rugby Australia didn’t stop Waratahs’ centre Lalakai Foketi  playing with Manly on the weekend because he was supposedly on standby to join the Wallabies’ training camp.

“Not at all,” Waugh responded. “I’ve said from the start that if people aren’t playing in the 23 for their Super Rugby club or the Wallabies they should be playing club rugby.

“And so do Peter Horne, who is leading all the high performance, and (Wallabies coach) Joe Schmidt. We are very firm believers in that.”

And remember, Wallaby squad member Kurtley Beale played for the Randwick side which defeated Easts in Saturday’s local derby by 50-37 at Woollahra, before being assisted from the field with a devastating leg injury.       

IMPRESSING THE BOSS

IT was a great way for Waugh to spend his Saturday arvo he left the ground impressed by the contest he witnessed.

“It was a great game, I think Warringah are playing particularly well – (they are) just clinical, attacking from everywhere, (play) a good style of rugby and they look fit.

“It was pretty good to watch.”

And how did Waugh feel seeing his former team concede 50 points?

“Warringah were just too good, Uni weren’t terrible,” he said.

While Waugh didn’t want to get involved with selections, several players caught his eye.

“I liked the look of the Warringah No.10 (Coby Miln), he directed traffic and kicked particularly well,” he said. “And I’ve always been a big fan of  (Warringah fullback) Ben Marr.”

The former Wallaby No.7 was also impressed by the Rats’ backrow of Chlayton Frans, Jake Barnabas and Charlie McKill.

THE BALLBOY RETURNS  

RAT Park is a venue which brings back a lot of fond memories for the Narrabeen Tigers junior.       

“I’ve done a lot of yards down here running up and down the sideline ballboying,” he said .

 “It’s good to be back and enjoying what it is all about, kids running around pre-game, halftime, after the game.

“I always say the local rugby club should be the beating heart of the local community and at Warringah, I certainly think that is the case.”