Gym owner donates 100 per cent of gym profits to local Easts Rugby Club

By ERIN WALKER

A man out in Rose Bay has become a generous donor to the Easts Rugby Club, by choosing to donate 100% of the profits made by his gym.

Having grown up in the area, Rose Bay’s F45 owner, David Allen has many great memories and finds that “the clubs are really almost like a glue that keeps the community together.”

Particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, Allen found that “people were feeling pretty isolated.”

“Everyone was yearning for that grassroot sense of community, and connection,” he told City Hub.

To date, Allen has donated $400,000 to the rugby community, helping fund over 450 junior players and 220 senior players to continue to play. Allen dedicates his time to continuing to work with the Easts Rugby Club.  

“We don’t really get any funding from the governing bodies. So, it’s all up to us to raise the money through sponsorship and benefactors,” he said.

The Club’s Funding

According to the club, most of their funding comes from sponsors, game day receipt, player registrations, occasional government grants and supporter or community donations, and without this the club would not survive. 

Allen’s continual funding has contributed to specialist coaching, equipment, and education that assist in the development of the club, its players and community. Whilst in the past also investing in 10 different country clubs that were ‘down with their luck’ after the droughts and bush fires.

The club’s participation numbers are some of the biggest they have ever seen. In 2022, the club saw six of their ten senior teams go through to grand finals, making four wins. With many homegrown superstars going on to play as NSW and Australian representative teams. 

Following this success, Allen hopes to see the club continue to grow, investing money into the thriving female program. He plans to contribute in the development of female change rooms, along with promoting female involvement and participation which Allen see’s is “absolutely critical going forward.”

Heritage Listing

In the clubs 2022 annual report the club reiterated their 2020 funding agreement with the Office of Sport NSW, that seeks the demolition and refurbishment of the existing change room.

However they continue to see delays as a result of heritage listing and design approval issues.