Rugby Southland boss resigns, pleased with state of union
Steve Mitchell will always have fond memories of his time in Invercargill.
The Rugby Southland chief executive officially resigned from his role at the provincial union’s recent annual meeting, after four years in charge.
It was announced on Tuesday that he had been appointed chief executive of the Tasman Rugby Union. He will move home to begin that role in June.
Mitchell started with Southland in 2020 and has seen the union go through plenty of change in that time, most of it for the better.
With plenty of friends and family still in the Tasman area and having previously worked for Tasman Rugby, Mitchell thought it was the right opportunity.
“My wife, Pam, and I have become pretty fond of Invercargill. We’ve loved our time down here,” he said.
“I always said I would do three to five years down here. It’s been four, and the job with Tasman popped up and I thought it was the perfect chance to return home.
“I will always have good memories of our time here in Southland. We’ve made plenty of great friends. I have enjoyed my time with Rugby Southland and we will miss the place.
“I am pleased with where I am leaving the union. It is a much more capable organisation.”
When he started, Rugby Southland’s finances weren’t in great shape, but four years down the track it has made another surplus and is sitting well in the black.
“The organisation is financially sound. There are good processes in place, increased staff and playing numbers, and a lot better delivery going on ... There’s better capability around the board [table] as well.”
Rugby Southland has plenty of projects in the pipeline and Mitchell was gutted he wouldn’t be able to oversee those, such as the development of Les George Oval and work on the roof at Rugby Park.
But he will have fond memories of his time in the deep south, saying Rugby Southland’s connection to and credibility with the wider community had strengthened.
“We are now seen as a far more proactive and professional organisation.”
His highlights included recognising 100-game Stags players, hosting the Highlanders, Matatū’s involvement in community initiatives such as the Blair Vining games, the growth of women’s rugby, and establishing the Peter Te Tai trophy.
Rugby Southland was passionate about developing homegrown talent, he said. That showed in current staff members such as Matt Saunders, James Wilson, Scott Eade, Marty McKenzie, David Hall, Josh Bekhuis and Daryl Thompson, all of whom have strong roots to the region.
“The structure and patterns in place now – with Murray Brown as chairman and Kane Thompson, a former Stag, coming back to coach – are indicators of the province wanting to do well.”
Mitchell was full of praise for Eade, the union’s pathways manager, and commercial marketing manager Jack King, who he said had made a real difference in the time he was there.
They had aimed for 33% commercial growth over three years but achieved it in two.
One treasured souvenir from Southland was Joe Walsh’s 50th game playing top, which the prop gifted to Mitchell.
“It’s an honour to have it. It will take pride of place alongside some other jerseys I have.”
He finishes up in the role at King’s Birthday Weekend.
“I will always have good memories of our time here in Southland ... I am pleased with where I am leaving the union. It is a much more capable organisation.” Steve Mitchell