RugbyWA is pleased to announce that Simon Taylor has been appointed as our new Chief Executive Officer.
Taylor's roots are in rugby, having spent more than a decade working with the Queensland Rugby Union at club, regional and statewide community levels of the game.
He is a former Netball WA Chief Executive and held a similar position with Swimming WA. Taylor said he was looking to creating a lasting legacy, bringing growth to rugby and building on the game's 130-year history in the State.
"It's a bit of double homecoming, returning to WA and to rugby," Taylor said.
"I'm really looking forward to the challenges and opportunities.
"The next decade, in the leadup to the Olympics and two home World Cups, will bring amazing opportunities that will allow us to capitalise on the profile and continue to grow the grassroots game.
"We should capitalise on all aspects of the game - sevens, the female game, kids, introduce people to the game for growth in participation and also spectators and fans.
"The biggest challenge is about being able to get kids engaged from the very beginning.
"If we can open up opportunities to engage more kids across the game then we can continue to grow all other aspects.
"We can get our clubs to thrive, our regions to flourish and develop all the performance pathways.
"In turn that helps greater grow the performance side of the game.
"It is super critical that we get the grassroots game right to be able to support a home-grown professional team.
"They need to have the connection with local clubs and supporters as well as from a talent pool perspective."
RugbyWA Chairman John Edwards said: "Simon brings with him a clarity of purpose and alignment with the Board and the ambition for the next 10 years.
"Having spent over a decade in WA sport with swimming and netball he is familiar with the challenges of our vast state and the importance of strong partnerships with all stakeholders.
"As we enter this decade of opportunity for the sport it is vital we support the fundamentals of the game - our volunteers, coaches, referees and administrators.
"It is vital that we build upon the ethos of rugby to provide participation opportunities across the state from our Rugby Roos through to men’s and women’s club and representative rugby across all forms of our game."
Taylor is currently helping establish a commercial strategy and securing partnerships for UniSport Australia, a commercial framework for Paralympics Australia’s Education Program and new commercial partnerships for Paralympics Australia.
He was acting head of Commercial, Communications and Brand for Paralympics Australia.
He was Netball WA CEO from 2012-2022 after spending two years as CEO of Swimming WA.
He spent 10 years with the Queensland Rugby Union as Partnerships General Manager, Community Rugby General Manager, Project Manager and Country Rugby Manager.
He was General Manager of Wests Bulldogs in Queensland's Hospital Cup competition, Rugby Administrator of the Rockhampton and District Rugby Club, Stakeholder Manager and Regional Sport Manager at Australian University Sport, and Manager of Sport and Recreation at the Central Queensland University Student Association.
Taylor will start with RugbyWA on 26 April after finishing a six-month journey across Australia with his family.
John Edwards RugbyWA Chairman jedwards@deep4energy.com
John Welborn RugbyWA President john@welborn.com.au
