After playing more than 100 games for the team during his rugby career, Dale Salmon has come full circle, being appointed General Manager of the Bond University Rugby Club.
Mr Salmon brings over 12 years’ experience in business development and sports administration to the role, having previously worked for Queensland Rugby Union, Sports House at Varsity Lakes and City of Canada Bay Council.
The former front rower has a long history with the Bond University Rugby Club, playing for the Gold Coast Breakers - who merged into the BURC in 2013 - since the age of 17 and earning his prestigious 100th game for the club in 2011.
Mr Salmon said his goal was to build support for the BURC to ensure the club continued to develop its elite player pathway from Premier Rugby to the National Rugby Championship and ultimately Super Rugby, through offering a professional level of coaching, development and conditioning to all of its players.
"I'm thrilled to be stepping into the role of General Manager; my overall aim is to make sure the BURC maintains its momentum and is in a good position to provide the very best opportunities for players to develop," he said.
"Having previously worked for the Queensland Rugby Union in rugby development on the Gold Coast for five years, I'm very familiar with the rugby landscape here and have great ties to local schools and clubs from working alongside them to bring players up through the development pathways.
"For players to have the chance to build their rugby careers right here on the Gold Coast is so important, so my aim is to give our players all the support they need to progress from Premier Grade through to Super Rugby and even the Wallabies."
Mr Salmon said he had hit the ground running in his first week on the job.
"I'm already settling into the role and really enjoying it. It's great to see some familiar faces and that the club is in a really strong position moving forward," he said.
"On only my third day I was lucky enough to be part of the Buildcorp NRC game held at Bond, with a crowd of nearly 1500 people watching the Bond University Queensland Country take on Melbourne Rising.
"The event in itself was of such a high calibre and that's what I will strive to do - make sure everything we do off the field matches the elite level that coach Sean Hedger and the boys are achieving on the field.
"Whether it's match day atmosphere for spectators or helping players with off-field commitments like jobs or study, I want to make sure being part of the BURC is the best experience possible for everyone involved.
"It's really important for me to build that support and link constructive partnerships with local businesses and organisations who are keen to work together to support the club, the players, the university and the coaches.
"BURC has a real foothold here on the Gold Coast and we want to ensure that players and supporters alike know that Bond is the premier rugby club in the region and this is where you'll see top players and coaches every weekend."
Outgoing General Manager Tim Rowlands was honoured with a life membership to the BURC at the recent Buildcorp National Rugby Championship (NRC) game held at Bond University on August 23.
Mr Salmon said Mr Rowlands was to be congratulated on his long association with rugby on the Gold Coast.
"Tim was the General Manager when I first started with the Breakers at 17 years of age and he was with the club when we won the premiership in 2004, so it's big shoes I'm stepping into," he said.
"He has played a huge part in building the industry of elite rugby on the Gold Coast, and from my perspective as both a player and a supporter of rugby he deserves a big thank you for being an integral part of the club."
For anyone interested in getting involved with the Bond University Rugby Club, contact Mr Salmon on [email protected] or visit http://bondrugby.com.au/page/membership.