2025 was an extraordinary year, with so much happening in our game in such a short period of time. Below are some of the key highlights from this year.
British & Irish Lions Visit
Lions Tours are once in a generation opportunity. The games played are not just mere rugby matches, but pervasive cultural experiences that show off the very best of our game. The fans, the noise and the feeling are unparalleled, and we are so fortunate to have been able to experience the very best of this tour
The AUNZ Test being played at the iconic Adelaide Oval was only the cherry on top of what was an outstanding week-long festival of rugby. The Lions Lunch, club activations and community engagement showed that not only could South Australia put on a world class event but also showed how vibrant and strong its rugby community is.
Black Falcons Women take their highest finish at ARS
The Black Falcons Women put in a stellar campaign at the ARS in Newcastle this past October, showing a notable advancement in their competitiveness and making it to the 3rd Place playoff for the first time ever. The squad went down gallantly in this match, but the improvements in the women’s game were apparent for all to see.
RUSA Grand Finals
The 2025 Finals Series was a celebration of everything that makes the community game so special, with a number of highly competitive matches played across the Junior and Senior competitions over two weekends. The hosting venues at Barossa and Southern Suburbs were exceptional and the quality of the games played were absolute standouts, with my personal favourites being the highly entertaining and competitive Under 16s with Woodville taking the spoils over a gallant Old Collegians, and Third Grade with Brighton’s last gasp win over long-time rival Burnside.
The quality of these events provide a wonderful platform to continue building from and we’re looking forward to competition returning next season.
2026 is set to be a year of investment, and all our strategic decision-making and business activities are geared towards three clear objectives:
- Provide stable and well administered rugby competition that can scale for sustainable growth
- Promote and highlight the game of rugby as visibly and frequently as possible
- Be ready and capable to seize the opportunities provided by the 2027 and 2029 Rugby World Cups
To achieve this, our community will notice several key deliveries in the 2026, including:
- The introduction of new competition pathways and programs, including the Women’s Challenge Cup, Girls Development Series and Western Force Academy SA
- The promotion and support of Rugby 7s as a pathway, including the introduction of the State 7s Series and Lightning 7s Schools Programs
- The implementation of Hudl camera technologies to help improve coaching performance and provide footage to promote the game
- The activation of our new AUSF West Beach Precinct to provide more rugby development opportunities including tournaments and development sessions We will be doing a deep dive on these points and many others in future Bulletins, and the team and I will be on hand as always to discuss our plans with the community.
Finally, I wish to thank every member of the RUSA community for their passion, patience, and dedication as I have transitioned into my role. From club presidents, players, coaches, and members of the RUSA Board led by Brett Smith, I have enjoyed a wonderful transition into this role thanks to all of you.
Additionally, I wish to acknowledge the significant contribution of my predecessor Carl Jones, whose long tenure driving rugby forward in South Australia has provided a wonderful platform for our community to continue building. Carl will remain a key figure in our community for many years to come, and with his work as Executive at NSW Country, we will no doubt see him continuing his impressive legacy toward the game in this county.
I would also like to provide a heartfelt thank you to my colleagues, Rose Jackson, Troy Doughty and Steph Pappas, who have helped me integrate quickly and continue to support our community every step of the way.
So to all our rugby community, have a very merry Christmas, a happy New Year and I look forward to working with all of you in 2026.
Lochie Lawrence, CEO Rugby Union SA
