Almost three decades after joining the club as a player in 1997, former Wallaby and three-time Catchpole Medal winner Scott Fava said he’s excited about the challenge of rebuilding Southern Districts over at least the next three seasons. 

Fava started his Shute Shield career at Forshaw and went on to be named the competition’s best player three times while playing with Eastwood. He also made 74 Super Rugby appearances and earned five Test caps. 

“As a young guy, I was in the Waratahs system but was still playing first grade for Kiama and the coaches sort of told me that if I wanted to go to the next level, I probably had to come up and play in the Shute Shield,” Fava told Rugby News. 

“At the time, my NSW Country coach Paul Murray was coaching at Southern Districts so it was an obvious choice, plus it was the closest club to home. 

“From there I got picked in the Australian U21s and was lucky to go on with my rugby from there.”

Fava has lived in Cronulla ever since and returns for his second stint coaching in the Shute Shield, after leading Norths in the early 2010s. 

“My family and I love the area and I think we’ll always live here. My kids are also coming through the Southern Districts system so I’ve been around the club for a while and seen the ups and downs over the last 10 years,” the former backrower said. 

“There have been times when things have been done really well at Souths, with a strong connection between the junior and senior clubs and other times when that hasn’t been done as well, so we know we need to build the club from the base up. 

“More recently, first grade will now have had four head coaches in four years, so we need a bit of stability and that’s why I was keen to commit for three seasons. 

“There’s a lot of work to do, but the club is in a pretty similar position to where Norths were when I coached them in 2010. They spent a few years rebuilding and went on to be one of the most dominant clubs at a first grade level for the last decade.”

Fava said there has been a big turnover of players at Southern Districts on the back of a few tough seasons but said there was still plenty to be optimistic about at Forshaw. 

“We’re aiming to have fourth grade back this year and those older guys will play an important role for the younger guys and girls pushing into senior rugby. 

“We need to be well connected across our four grade teams, three colts teams and two women’s teams on and off the field. 

“Our colts have spent the last few years rebuilding under George Gargoulakis and had their best season in a long time last year. Our women’s Sevens program are also back under the Southern Districts banner so there is a lot of good energy coming out of those parts of the program.”

Southern Districts open their season against defending premiers Easts at Forshaw in early April.