Serving as a volunteer director for Rugby Union South Australia (RUSA) provides a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the growth, sustainability, and future success of rugby across the state. Directors play an important role in shaping strategic decisions that enhance participation, strengthen clubs, and support clear pathways for players, coaches, and officials.
In addition to giving back to the rugby community, this role offers valuable opportunities to further develop leadership, governance, and professional networks while working alongside passionate volunteers, stakeholders, and partner organisations. Ultimately, board service helps support healthy, active communities and ensures rugby continues to thrive throughout South Australia.
Serving as a director on a State Rugby Union board requires a balanced mix of governance capability, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal skills. Key skill sets include:
- Governance and Compliance – Understanding board responsibilities, fiduciary duties, risk management, and compliance with constitutions, policies, and regulatory requirements.
- Strategic Thinking – Ability to contribute to long-term vision, strategic planning, and the sustainable growth of the sport across participation, performance, and development pathways.
- Financial Acumen – Capability to read and interpret financial reports, oversee budgets, and support sound financial management and sustainability.
- Leadership and Decision-Making – Confidence to provide independent judgment, ask constructive questions, and make informed decisions in the best interests of the organisation and the game.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with clubs, volunteers, players, sponsors, governing bodies, and community partners.
- Sport and Community Insight – Knowledge of rugby union and the broader community sport environment, including participation trends, inclusion, and volunteer engagement.
- Integrity and Professionalism – A commitment to ethical behaviour, confidentiality, and acting with respect, fairness, and accountability at all times.
Together, these skills enable directors to provide effective oversight, strong leadership, and positive stewardship of rugby union at the state level.
In accordance with the RUSA Constitution, the Board is comprised of:
- Five (5) member-appointed (elected) directors, and
- Up to four (4) board-appointed directors
This structure is designed to ensure an appropriate balance between member representation, skills-based appointments, and strong governance.
- Representation and legitimacy, ensuring the voice of members is reflected at board level
- Strong grassroots connection, bringing insight into club needs and community expectations
- Democratic governance, reinforcing transparency and accountability
- Targeted skills and experience, including areas such as finance, legal, governance, commercial expertise, or high-performance sport
- Continuity and stability, supporting succession planning and retention of corporate knowledge
- Strategic capability, strengthening the board’s focus on long-term sustainability and risk management
- Gender balance, enabling compliance with funding requirements, government expectations, and governance best practice
Together, this mixed model:
- Creates a skills-based and representative board
- Supports strong governance and informed decision-making
- Balances member accountability with professional oversight
This approach is widely used across sporting organisations to ensure boards remain member-focused while meeting increasing governance, financial, and regulatory demands.
The Board is currently seeking to fill one (1) Member-Appointed Director vacancy due to an existing members appointed 3-year term being at an end.
Appointed terms are for 3 years in duration.
For more information or to put forward a possible candidate we ask that you contact Paul Brown on 0402313141 or info@sa.rugby
Nomination close on 15th April and are to be sent to info@sa.rugby
Suitable candidates we will be assessed by the appointed Nomination committee who will then put forward recommendation to the board for their consideration. Nomination are assessed in associated with Skill Matrix required by the board and the need to be compliant with our Funding requirement around board structure.
Please access the nomination form here
