29th August 2014
To all our Club Members, Supporters and Old Boys

Hi Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our 2014 rugby league season has certainly come to an end with a few highs and lows, Our Richmond Premier team unfortunately have ended back down to the second division or the Sharman Cup for the 2015 season. It wasn’t from the lack of commitment or effort on our coaching staff and players. The Fox Memorial Competition is unfortunately all about the clubs with the most money. Our Richmond Board made submissions to the Auckland Rugby League in support of a points system to restrict clubs from buying their players from other club. The ARL Board has listened and will trial a points system in 2015 and implement it in 2016. The year Richmond will bounce back in to the Fox Memorial shield competition! Nonetheless, congratulations to Premier players Karl Simeti and Siliga Kepaoa on making the Akarana Representative men's team and Ley Vano, Chedyn Mani and Jonah Sofele on making the Auckland Vulcans Development Under 21s Representative team. Damon Niko was also selected but unable to attend trainings.

The Richmond Board of Directors have re–appointed Bernie Perenara as the Premier Coach for the next two years. Bernie has shown that the boys have great respect for him and his ideas, so we are certainly hoping that we could start re-building some stability through all the seniors teams and juniors coming through for the future of the Richmond club. Bernie has shown interest as well in the Richmond Academy training for this coming summer to align all teams with the club strategy.

2014 season was also a great time to start looking at the rebuilding stages of our club, beginning with recent discussions on our new Richmond club building. There has been two meetings at the Richmond club in the last three months with the Auckland City Council who are looking at future plans for a new location of the new Richmond Club rooms. At the moment the Richmond Club has indicated where we would like the club rooms built, so we will await their response. There will be lots of planning from our Board on how to raise funds in coming months as we all know there is no pot of gold at the end of the Grey Lynn rainbow. we have noted success stories with multi-sports clubs sharing facilities but under the rugby league banner (e.g. Manurewa Marlins sports club). In no way is Grey Lynn park going to be a soccer/football club simply for the saturation of other clubs in surrounding inner city Auckland. Good thing to note is that the council know of our intentions for a new building. We simply need this and as a community sports club we definitely deserve it -just ask any of our 600+ strong club members!

As trialled in 2014 was the alcohol free club policy where the Richmond club became the only Fox Memorial club in 2014 to operate without a single sale of alcohol. We have had great response from various organizations and certain community minded people this year. It has been a successful year with no complaints at all from the local residents and surrounding communities. We have taken feedback as a Board from our club members and have found that there is one element missing from our club -the social aspect of joining your mates, members and supporters in our club house for a beverage or two. So as a Board we have agreed to controlled bar opening hours from 4.00pm until 9.00pm in 2015. It has been a worthwhile trial as we encourage all club members, supporters and players to take more responsibility with alcohol when at our club room. So to re-confirm we will be opening our club bar in the 2015 season ONLY on Saturdays from 4.00pm to 9.00pm. If you are interested in knowing more about becoming apart of the Richmond club as the bar manager then please contact us.

I would like to thank all our 2014 major sponsors: LJ Hooker Ponsonby (Steve Glucina), Waterview Laundromat (Divesh Kumar), Giltrap Prestige BMW (Tony Coutinho), Shamrock Reroofing (Brendan McLoughlin), Grey Lynn Tavern (Grant Tulloch) and Peter Fell Concrete (Peter Fell). The great support we have had from the Waitemata Local Board, Grey Lynn Business Association and local businesses such as The Surrey Hotel, Kwik N Ezy Canopy and Mr Whippy has been outstanding. Without your support in 2014 we would not have been in a position to cater to and cater for our Richmond Premier grade team, Richmond Academy and overall club. If you would like more information on 2015 sponsorship then please contact us. Thank you!

Lastly, our Richmond Senior Prize Giving is on this Saturday 27th September at Mahurehure Cultural Marae, 73 Premier St Pt Chevalier. Please contact us if you require tickets or players please see your team manager.

All the best for the remaining year! Go the mighty Richmond Rovers!

This Sunday 29th of June our Richmond Roses play Bay Roskill. Do come along and farewell Roses member Luisa Avaiki who plays her last game on our beloved home ground- Grey Lynn Park at 2pm for the Richmond Roses as she leaves us after 20+ years with the club as a player, coach, mentor and friend. 

Lui is our most successful Kiwi Ferns Captain winning two World Cups and having played in all three World Cups. Come and celebrate with the Richmond club to farewell our sister/friends successful journey to date as she embarks on another journey.

Come watch Luisa Avaiki play her final league game as she takes on her new role in Melbourne. See you all there!

Hi all,

Thank your Richmond club volunteers simply by clicking on the image and filling out a short 5 minute online nomination form. Volunteers are the life line of the Richmond club so what better way than to thank them via SPORT AUCKLAND. 

Thank you for showing your appreciation for a New Zealand Sport Maker. Whether it's blowing a whistle, coaching, balancing the books or helping with the fundraising BBQ – volunteers are the backbone of New Zealand sport. They make sport happen, that's why we call them Sport Makers.

To send them a thank you e-card just fill in the details below. Doing so also gives them the chance to enter a prize draw to win $500 of quality clothing and sporting goods.

Lotto New Zealand, in partnership with Sport NZ, is proud to be contributing over $1 million of clothing and sporting goods to Sport Makers and their teams throughout New Zealand over the next three years.

SPORT AUCKLAND is part of this nationwide volunteer recognition initiative, supported by Sport NZ and Lotto. SPORT AUCKLAND wishes to recognise as many local volunteers as possible. It is so important that we thank our sport volunteers, as without them, sport would not happen. The ‘Thank a Sport Maker’ campaign is an easy way to let our Richmond club volunteers know how grateful you are that they give up their time and expertise to make rugby league happen at your club.

Dear Richmond supporters,

It has been a week since the announcement of our Club’s 2014 Alcohol Free policy and I am so excited and really looking forward to the year ahead after receiving numerous positive feedbacks about the move. After 12 months we will really know how successful this positive and new initiative is. To be fair you can find alcohol anywhere these days if you want some. Note please that we have kept our Bar license open until 2015 for the concerned few. As I mentioned time after time that, if you continue to do the same thing every year you will always end up with the same result. So, as a forward thinking sports club, let’s all get going, remain supportive and move on to more exciting things happening this year. 

Firstly, let’s all get down and support our Richmond Premier Team who are finally competing in the 2014 Fox Memorial Shield competition where we should have been in the first place. The Coach, staff and the players have done the hard work during summer and are rearing to go! The Richmond Board and our whole Club have really got behind our top team this year securing some excellent sponsors for the club. We have a great group of players including new Premier 1st coach Luisa Avaiki’s players who will be great back-up for our top team. We have some young players coming through the grade as well and we are all excited about their campaigns this year. 

As a club we are also very proud that the Fox Memorial Launch this year was held at our club rooms last Friday 28 March by the Auckland Rugby League. I call on all other Richmond senior teams plus the Roses to get their teams organized and have a great year ahead. Check out some of the images from the night on our club website Photo Gallery.

Best Regards,

Gus Fepuleai
Chairman RRRLFC
021 08369836

Our Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club wants to extend our sincere thanks to STEVE GLUCINA of L.J. HOOKER for his continuous support for our Grey Lynn based Club.

Steve's continuous support for our Richmond Junior Academy has been overwhelming over the last 2 years, and he has extended himself again to become apart of our Major Sponsors for our Club and our Premiers Fox Campaign this Season. 

Please support him and his business anytime if you know of anyone selling and buying a property in the Ponsonby or the Grey Lynn Area. 

Contact L.J.Hooker ( Ponsonby Road on 09 3767530 or email: sglucina.ponsonby@ljh.co.nz

Thank you so much to the wonderful people who have provided much support and positive feedback about our Richmond rugby league club policy to go alcohol free. 

Click the following link for a copy of the RadioNZ publicity our humble club have received in support of this initiative:  
http://podcast.radionz.co.nz/ntn/ntn-20140417-0940-alcohol_ban_at_an_auckland_rugby_league_club-00.ogg

Click here for a video on National TVs Seven Sharp: http://tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp/blokes-balls-and-beersies-na-mate-video-5898660

See below for a range of comments. Again, thank you for your support and we hope to see you down Grey Lynn Park in the near future.

K Smith 
Congrats! This is fantastic not only for the men and the club but the families as well. 

K Vaatuitui
I like to congratulate the Richmond club for the way its going its a good feeling to know the club being part of my life since i was 12 yrs old remember mud soft drinks in the 70s n the centre of the universe for us kids go the the bulldogs. I'm proud to know the club is even better now than ever before. It is giving all the young kids an opportunity to better themselves and lead to better lives for them and the future. I'm fortunate enough to be where I am but I had to work very hard. So to those kids that come through the club, if they work hard enough they should bear the fruit of success and live wonderful lives. God bless

K Hanara
Gus you're a legend. You can do it. For the kids.

C Spoors
Glad you're getting rid of the booze. But don't substitute it with sugar ridden fizzy drinks..they're equally unhealthy! Good luck

Anonymous
A bold move by the committee and members of my beloved Richmond Rovers RLFC - so proud of the leadership and commitment made - many years from now this will be seen as a milestone for the club and the game.

S Kuegler
Hi, On behalf of my neighbors in Wallingford St we would all like to say thanks and congratulate you on the liquor free policy at the club. It has made our neighborhood so much more enjoyable to live in and we appreciate it. Regards. 

After the Richmond Rovers Rugby League Board Meeting last night Ming Mafoe and his existing Coaching Staff has been re-appointed to take the reins for our Fox Memorial Shield Competition campaign in 2014.

The Board has invited and requested a review with the newly appointed coach and staff about their successes of this year's Campaign and their plans moving forward. This will provide an opportunity for the Richmond club to find out where we can be of further help.

Congratulations again to Ming Mafoe, Mark Michaels & Molly Foai for their confirmed appointments!

I am absolutely lost for words after being involved in and witnessing some memorable events and images of our beloved Richmond Rovers Club in Grand Final battle action over the weekend. It never seems to amaze me about the number of talented players and people in this proud club. Add that to the incredible support from our loyal and passionate families, volunteers, supporters and past players; we look forward to a bright future on and off the playing field! I am very proud of all our Richmond teams especially the Premiers which is our show piece marching on into the Fox Memorial Shield competition in 2014. I am very grateful for this great opportunity to be part of the Greatest Club in Rugby League History!...the Richmond Rovers.

I mentioned last Saturday at prize giving during my speech about how important the following qualities are to us all at the Richmond club. 


The four chambers of Richmond's strong heart that have kept our club going for the last 100 years are our volunteers, our families, our supporters and lastly our past players. What I highlighted as being important to our Premier grade players is our Richmond club's goal to compete in Auckland's flagship competition. You have in front of you a huge opportunity to stamp your mark and put your names beside that trophy moving our club to where it belongs, the Fox Memorial Shield competition. I can not bring myself to accept that we are in the Sharman cup competition and neither should any of you. 

I am so proud of you all and what you have done so far by putting yourselves in this position to compete in the Sharman cup grand final. You have responded to my calling make all those long hours of time and effort myself and our wonderful volunteer committee have put in over the past two years worthwhile. Your passion to your coach and staff makes this proud club stand proud beside you in battle. Good luck for next weekend's game. Train well this week and next. Do us proud! 

Hi all 
 
I would like to encourage you all to take advantage of a great opportunity to promote your business (or a friends business) through our rugby league club, our local community and its members.

Click here to check out this flyer for our Richmond 100 business club raffle. On Friday 24th May we intend to host our guests and club members to a raffle draw in which two businesses will be announced to don their business logo on our club Premier team and Premier 1st team jerseys for the 2013 season.
 
If you are interested in supporting this community initiative then purchase a $100 raffle ticket from our Richmond club Chairman, Gus Fepuleai on 021 083 69836

All purchased tickets will receive a free 6 month business listing (valued at $600).

If interested we also have other advertising opportunities (club room signage, sponsorships etc) available which Gus can happily discuss with you.
 We hope you see great merit at a small investment in this initiative to bring your business closely aligned to our club, our local community and its members.