Careful investment of the money from New Zealand Rugby’s Silver Lake deal will be key to the game in future.
It was one of the key parting thoughts from outgoing chairwoman Rowena Davenport at last night's Otago Rugby Football Union annual meeting
Davenport said as sport as a whole continued to change, it was important rugby adapted to remain relevant to as many people as possible.
While that was challenging with limited resources and a wide array of stakeholders, the Silver Lake deal would help boost its ability to do that.
She stressed it was important it was invested in a careful and considered manner — not just investing in more of the same.
Chief executive Richard Kinley outlined a move to incorporate refereeing into the game development roles.
Those had focused on coaching in recent years, but would create a shift in the way various roles were approached.
In two key staffing hires Michael Smith will come on as game development manager, while Brandon Hale will begin as the game development referee.
A women’s game development manager would also be appointed.
Former All Black fullback, and later All Black coach, Laurie Mains was made a life member.
Mains played for Southern, forging an impressive career for Otago and playing four test matches.
However, it was his time as a coach, particularly with the Otago NPC team from 1983 to 1991, that was acknowledged as his most significant impact on the province.
It was noted he was one of very few to have both played and coached 100 games for his province, while he later had administrative and governance roles.
Paul Hessian and John Hammer were elected to the board selection panel.
The union recorded a $93,020 deficit, but its $1.48million equity and $1.2million cash reserves left it in good financial health.
