The Trusts Community Foundation (TTCF) announced today that funding has been approved for a Rugby Development Officer for the Ardmore Marist Rugby & Sports Club. 

TTCF operates within venues located across South Auckland and managed by the Wiri Licensing Trust.

This position is a first for the club and Doug Sanft will take up the role in early February, 2021.  

Ardmore Marist Chairperson Glenn Flavell said that the successful funding decision recognises the incredible opportunity that a this role will bring to the Club and to the local community.

"The opportunity to contract an RDO in 2021 will allow us to extend our reach into our local communities and also spend time working in a mentoring and skills developmental role with our volunteer junior coaches"  Flavell said

"Ardmore Marist is helping to support a number of free to join pop-up events throughout the year and it will be great to be able to fully support these initiatives and further develop our players and coaches and activate our communities" he explained 

"One of our most important resources are the people who support Ardmore Marist on and off the field and we will now be able to really focus on giving our people every opportunity to thrive and learn from one of the best!" Flavell said 

"We are so very grateful that the Wiri Licensing Trust and TTCF shares our vision and supports an initiative like this in our community".

Doug Sanft has held the Head Coaching position at Ardmore Marist since 2018 and claimed the McNamara Cup in his first year coaching at the club. 

Sanft is arguably one of the most successful CMRFU club coaches of recent times.

Having led the coordination and development of our senior coaches over the last four years, Sanft has helped Ardmore Marist claim three CMRFU Hinton Cup 7s titles, two Bob Chandler Memorial cup wins, consecutive McNamara Cup finals berths, NZ Marist 7s wins and last month won back to back NZ National Club 7s titles.

Doug Sanft played premier club rugby for Ardmore Marist in 2002, 2003 and NPC for the CMRFU Steelers.  Sanft spent a period of time playing professional rugby in Spain and Europe and represented Samoa in the Manu and Samoa 7s teams.

Article added: Wednesday 10 February 2021