The union had its annual meeting last night and reported a profit of nearly $320,000.
It outlined the strategy for the coming year and reviewed the past year.
The union had an increase in players of 5% and now has 7689 players across the province. The rise was in players aged under 20 with the senior numbers mainly staying static. Union general manager Richard Kinley said this was helped by the growth in rippa rugby competitions and some increase in students playing in social grades.
Refereeing numbers are also on the rise and 23 more referees took up the whistle last year. That led to all games from premier grade down to under-14 having a referee.
Kinley said that volunteer numbers were strong and the union worked hard to include all clubs from right around Otago, not just in Dunedin. This was not always easy in such a wide geographical area as Otago but the union was committed to improving its communication and keeping all clubs involved.
Kinley said the union had set a goal of its ITM Cup team making the ITM Cup final and, athough it did not do that - eventually finishing sixth in the Championship - the representative programme was working well.
He pointed to the fact six players from Otago attended a New Zealand under-20 camp and other representative sides had done well.
Kinley said from the province of South Canterbury and below, which encompassed four provinces, there were 16,855 players, which he said was a healthy number, and showed the game was in good heart.
He warned there were challenges ahead with regards to retaining secondary school players, the changing rural environment and providing resources right across the region.
The ministerial forum on alcohol advertising and sponsorship was also something sports clubs had to keep an eye on, Kinley said.
But he felt New Zealand Rugby had the issue well advanced and he did not envisage many changes.
The union faced some financial challenges this year, as there was no test to host in a tough financial climate, but it would continue to work hard.
Former chairman Doug Harvie stood down as a board member last night after three years and was replaced by Garry Chronican.
Chronican is the long-serving chairman of the New Zealand Schools Rugby Council.
A former school teacher, he is the University of Otago Foundation Year academic manager.
Harvie is now the chairman of the Highlanders.
The meeting also voted former president and long-serving board member Adrian Read to be a life member of the union.
Read has been involved with the union for more than 20 years and served under five chairmen.
Keith Cooper would continue in his role as board member after he finished an initial three-year term.
