John Edwards and Trevor Cook will stand down from the RugbyWA Board at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
John Edwards has been a driving force in Western Australian rugby since joining the RugbyWA Board in 2014 and becoming Chairman in 2017. With a lifelong connection to the game as a player, coach, and administrator both in Australia and abroad, he has contributed significantly to the sport’s growth. From his early playing days in New South Wales to representing Indonesia at the Hong Kong Sevens, Mr. Edwards’ rugby journey spans multiple continents, including stints in Singapore, India, Indonesia, and the USA.
Mr. Edwards’ joined the RugbyWA Board in 2014, and was appointed to Chairman in 2017. He played an instrumental role throughout the period of uncertainty following the Western Force’s axing from Super Rugby, negotiating a process of change for the successful reinvention and development of the current structure of RugbyWA. He served on the RugbyWA Board for 11 years.
His service also included an almost-ten-year stint on the Board of Force 15/Future Force Foundation (now known as the Rugby Foundation of Western Australia), and played a vital role in the sponsorship of RugbyWA and its school programs through Junior Force.
Professionally, Mr. Edwards was the regional director of Asia Pacific at Fugro-TSM, with over 30 years of worldwide experience with offshore oil, gas and marine contracting organisations. As founder and CEO, his company was a major sponsor of the Western Force from 2012 to 2017.
Trevor Cook is a RugbyWA Life Member, and has been a key member of the RugbyWA Board of Directors since his appointment in 2016. Mr. Cook commenced his rugby career in Western Australia with Western Suburbs Rugby Club, where he was part of their Premiership winning side, before joining Kalamunda Districts, then called Southern Suburbs Kalamunda Districts, in 1979. He went on to serve numerous roles with the club, including as a coach for their Colts and Premier Grade teams, as well as serving on the committee for over 15 years. He was Club President of Kalamunda from 2010 to 2018.
Mr. Cook was a member of CRAC for four years, before he was elected to the RugbyWA Board in 2016. He has served on the RugbyWA Board for 9 years, and has been a stalwart of the Rugby community in Western Australia, consistently championing for the development and retention of Colts-aged players. Mr. Cook was made a RugbyWA Life Member in 2023, in recognition of his service to the game in WA.
In his professional career, Mr. Cook worked in the mining sector, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer of OM Manganese for 9 years, as well as General Manager of Mining at NRW Holdings, and General Manager of Mining at BGC Contracting.
RugbyWA President, John Welborn, said: “On behalf of the entire Board and RugbyWA community, I want to extend our deepest thanks to John Edwards and Trevor Cook for their outstanding service and dedication to the rugby community.
“John has been a driving force in shaping the strategic direction of our game through a period of immense change. His global rugby experience, business acumen, and unwavering commitment have left a lasting legacy - not just through his leadership as Chairman, but through his work in supporting our grassroots and school programs.
“Trevor has been a pillar of our community both on and off the field. His decades-long service, from club level to the Boardroom, reflects a rare kind of dedication. His deep connection to the club system has ensured the voices of our community remain at the heart of what we do.
“We are incredibly grateful to both John and Trevor for their many years of tireless service to the rugby community. Their legacy will continue to shape our game for years to come.”
Mr. Edwards’ role as Chairman of the Board will conclude from RugbyWA’s Annual General Meeting in April 2025, as will Mr. Cook’s role as Elected Board Member. RugbyWA thanks Mr. Edwards and Mr. Cook for their dedication and support of Western Australian rugby, and for their hard work in securing the future of the game in the state.
