While Matt Tink says it "breaks" him to see the turmoil at the top level of the game, he continues to brim with pride when looking at rugby in the Central West.
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Tink will meet with club officials from the various Central West Rugby Union (CWRU) competitions in the coming days, with the decision of how any 2020 season will look up to them.
The way Tink has worked with the club representatives in the past two years is one of the biggest positives of his time as CWRU chief executive and he's ready to support whatever decisions are made this week.
Rugby NSW announced on Friday evening it would be aiming to have competitions running again from July but a lot of unanswered questions remain in regards to the potential for crowds and financial impacts relating to major sponsors - many of those licensed premises - currently being shut amid the lockdown.
"They're all legitimate concerns and I want to jump on it straight away and all clubs can put their cards on the table," Tink said.
"It's not my competition, it's theirs and I'll facilitate what they want."
If a season is to go ahead in the region the structure would be the next issue as the competitions - Blowes Clothing Cup, New Holland Agriculture Cup, Olisplus Cup, South West division and the new-look women's division, were all due to start earlier this month.
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Tink will leave that up to the clubs and that harmonious approach to the game in this region is in stark contrast compared to the relationship between those at the top level.
The sport has been in the news for all the wrong reasons in the past week after Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle resigned after losing the support of the board.
Ten Wallabies captains had penned a letter stating Rugby Australia had lost it's way prior to that, continuing what has been an incredibly turbulent period for the game.
It has created a huge amount of frustration among fans, with many in this region concerned the focus is firmly inward and that could have a severe impact on grassroots rugby.
"So much of the negativity is around the professional game and the politics," Tink said.
"You look at Central West rugby and community rugby and it's a great product. There's good people volunteering their time and providing for the players.
"I work with these people and they're good people who get it. Central West rugby is a good news product."
Tink is someone who knows the game inside out, as well.
From Dubbo originally, Tink was a Junior Wallaby early in his younger days while his extensive coaching career has included stints with the Western Force, Melbourne Rebels, and Honda Heat in Japan while he's currently serving as the forwards coach for the Wallaroos.
"It breaks me," he said of the turmoil.
"We don't help ourselves. Rugby media and the players, as well. You watch a game and the first thing the captain says in an interview after a win is 'it wasn't pretty'.
"Who cares? I know how much goes into winning a game of Super Rugby.
"And things are very different at a community level but what gets written about the most if the professional level.
"We've got the ability to have something great and if we can come out of this unified we can have a great product."
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
