Northern Suburbs Press Release –

Northern Suburbs Rugby Football Club will hold their annual presentation night on Friday the 1st of August with the occasion doubling as a farewell to Head Coach Scott Fava.

Fava, who joined the club in 2010 as co-coach with Grahame O’Donnell, had a quick and immediate impact on the club. His years of experience as a professional rugby player and his exceptional approach to coaching saw Norths improve dramatically within three seasons when first grade played in the qualifying final and every grade and colts team qualified for the semi finals.

“Retiring from professional rugby, Norths presented an opportunity to continue to work within rugby and the challenge of rejuvenating the club. It has been an amazing 5 years, filled with superb team and individual successes, but also learning about myself professionally during the low times. Despite our results in Grade in 2014, our strategy from 2011 to produce a Norths Club that will be sustained through the development of Colts into Elite Grade players is in motion with a high of 80% of Norths Colts fulfilling 1st Grade v Penrith in Round 1. This is success, and I foresee a great future for the club from 2015 and beyond”, Scott said.

During his time with Norths the club has experienced a purple patch of success.

• 2011- First grade reaching the semi finals for the first time since 2007.

• 2012- First grade reaching the qualifying final against Sydney University, Norths finishing 4th in the Club Championships and Norths being recognize as one of only four, Sydney clubs named in top tier of the ARU premier rugby sides.

• 2013- First grade semi finalists and five teams all qualifying for the semi finals.

In the 5 years of coaching, many of our players have risen through the ranks from club to State and National selection. Many of these players can attribute the work Scott has put in, to their success. Some of the players that have graduated to higher honours in Scott’s tenure include: Cameron Crawford, Cruze Ah-Nau, Corey Brown, Zac Holmes, AJ Gilbert, Jordan Smiler, Scott Sio, Sam Myers, Will Miller, Cam Clarke, Jessie Parahi, Peter Schuster, Michael Dowsett, Rory Walton and Chris Tuatara-Morrison.

“Scott has done a tremendous job over the last 5 years in rebuilding our entire rugby program. He has brought in a professional and analytical approach and it is no coincidence a number of our young players have quickly gone to the next level through the pathway he has put in place”, Director of Rugby Grahame O’Donnell emphasized.

Grahame O’Donnell and Scott have worked side by side both as coaching partners and more recently as Rugby Director and Head Coach.

“After 5 years of debriefing, planning or just general chat, Scott has become much more than a colleague. He is a humble, quality man who I have the utmost respect for and am proud to call him a friend. Whatever the future holds Scott will be a success in this new chapter of his life”, Grahame applauded of Scott.

Much of the recent success of our colts program can also be attributed to Scott overseeing the program with Head Coaches Tim Archibald & Chris Hall, leading a young and dynamic coaching & playing side through a resurgence of Norths Rugby.

“There are so many people to thank, but none more deserving than Grahame O’Donnell, who is an inspiration, a loyal Shoremen and a mate that has made this experience worthwhile”, Fava praised of O’Donnell.

Scott leaves a wonderful legacy at Northern Suburbs Rugby Club and we wish him the best of luck with his next adventure.