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Greater Sydney Rams are RAMping up rugby in your back yard for 2015

15/06/2015

Greater Sydney Rams are RAMping up rugby in your back yard for 2015
 



Preparations are underway at the Greater Sydney RAMS in the lead up to the 2015 NRC competition. 
Fans will enjoy an intense communication programme from now through until the end of the seasons.  RAMS developments, including game day information, player signings, tournaments and member offerings will all be included.
 
To kick start we would like to release some key initiatives, of which we will expand upon over the coming weeks.   
 
1. Games Announcement:
The official NRC draw will be released to the public late June. What we can confirm is that the RAMS will likely have one game in Queensland, Victoria, and the ACT, with all remaining games in New South Wales. Pirtek Stadium will continue as our long term home ground. 
 
2. Staff:
After a very busy season in 2014, we have committed to a number of key positions at the RAMS which will propel our franchise success for seasons to come. We now announce some official positions below: 
 

 

  • Fraser Neill (ex-Waratahs CEO) - Strategy and Growth
     

  • Jim Williams (former Wallaby and Wallaby assistant coach, NSWRU indigenous project lead for LEL program) has now officially been appointed Franchise Coach
     
  •  Greg Dening (aka Panda) appointed Mens General Manager
     
  • Carl McDonald appointed Head of our womens elite 7's program 

     
  • Katie Mullaly (ex-womens Australian rugby) appointed community and ambassador initiatives. 

 
Further announcements on structure will follow in the next few weeks.  A series of video interviews with Jim Williams will be released later to our membership base, and will be featured on the websitewww.ramsrugby.com.au
 
Jim Williams played at the elite level, representing the Wallabies in 14 Tests. He started his coaching career in Munster in 2005 as assistant coach and then forwards coach. He left there in 2008 and came back to Australia and took up an assistant coaching role with the Wallabies from 2008 to 2011. Jim has been working with NSW Rugby for the past three years and he loves the vision of the RAMS and being a part of what we are creating.
 
Jim is passionate about promoting Rugby in Western Sydney in particular, and through his current role he has built relationships with different community groups around Sydney which will be helpful in promoting the RAMS. He’s especially keen to ensure  that the RAMS are able to provide players opportunities to improve their lives, such as educational support.


 

Picture: Jed Holloway and new coach Jim Williams

3. Player Signings:
Jed Holloway has been signed for 2015 season. The Southern Districts and Waratahs product is set for a barnstorming NRC tournament. As we type this memo, a hamstring injury has curtailed his Super Rugby season so NRC teams...... be wary of 'the caged lion'! 

- Other news – one of our star players from 2014 was Ben Vola Vola.  He played so well in fact that he has recently been snatched up by the Crusaders. We missed the boat for the RAMS, but we know where his heart belongs.  We wish Ben well and will be following his career

4. Future Player Signings:
Many more playersignings will be released as June rolls along.. Our focus remains our partner Shute Shield clubs and top South-West Sydney players. No question there are other 2014 RAMS playing good rugby currently, including our Super Rugby folk e.g. Guy Millar, Jed Gillespie, Hugh Roach, Steve Mafi and Chris Alcock. Management have been working closely with Shute Shield Coach's and seeking their input on players ready to step up. 
 
5. The RAMS mantra for 2015:
'RAMping up rugby in your backyard'
The RAMS franchise from the beginning welcomed Eastwood, Penrith, Southern Districts, West Harbour and Parramatta Shute Shield Clubs into the fold. Nothing has changed from this front, and we will continue to build strong allegiance throughout our clubs.

Last year, some of the highlights were our RAMS mascot, kids clinics and the horned beanies, which were thoroughly enjoyed by our rugby loving community. This year we aim to take it up step further, and really build our community in the heartland. 
 
So, what does that mean:
We will play our first NRC home game this year at the Two Blues home ground – Merrylands RSL Rugby Park
We will play our second NRC home game at the Rebels home ground – Forshaw Rugby Park
We will play our third NRC home game at the Pirates home ground – Concord Oval
We will play our fourth NRC home game at the RAMS home stadium – Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta 

Our ambassadorial programme will get a large RAMp up with Kate Mullaly who will be organising for Players and coaches to be out visiting Junior Clubs in the catchment: kids clinics, awards, training runs and a whole bunch of fun. We will be working closely with NSWRU and key stakeholders so we are all giving back to the future.... kids. 
 
6. Members BBQ: in the weeks ahead we will be invite all our Members to a get together at Concord Oval with Players, Staff and Club Leaders.  It will be a chance to kick the footy, take photos or simply chat about the upcoming tournament. More on this in the days ahead. 
 
7. Horned Army Hill: To be featured at our homegames, a special effort will made for our Subbies and Shute Shield Players and the Horned Army (fan club) to watch the game. We want to hear from you on our social media sites. Tell us what you want on game day. We will do or best to support our fellow rugby tragics. 
 


 
 
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