Down Under Rugby has been established by Grant Houldsworth and Matthew Bowman. Grant and Matt have been great mates since they started playing Rugby together in 1993. The boys have played together at Sydney Boys' High School (Premier Australian Rugby School), Randwick Rugby Club (1st Grade Rugby), and in NSW representative teams.
Grant was a specialist centre who was capable of playing any position in the backline. Matt was a tough front-row forward with superior scrummaging technique and amazing balls skills at the point of contact.
Their skills and knowledge of the game complement each other - and so do their personalities.
The past four years have been a complete blast. The guys dedication to training and eagerness to learn the intricacies of game was astounding. I loved seeing the improvement in their play during their time here - they really stuck it to some of the Aussie players on the field. Not only were they great to coach but they were all awesome blokes. I now call all of them mates and keep in regular contact - I can't wait for a DUR reunion. I am excited about the prospect of a new bunch of guys heading Down Under in 2010.
Grant Houldsworth
DOWN UNDER RUGBY
Having been involved in rugby for the last 15 years I have
come to realize that it certainly has played a significant
role in the developmental stages of my life. It's apex being
when it became my profession for two years in 2002/03 with
the Waratah Super 12 program. However, this had strangely never
been a goal of mine in the game of rugby union.
As a school boy
I failed to make any representative teams, going on to be involved
in the U/21 colts program at the Randwick Rugby Club my first
year out of school. I pursued this due to an enjoyment and
love of a game that exemplified the amateur ideals that I so
truly believe in. The mateship, the challenge, the highs of
a win, the lows of a loss and of course enjoying all these
aspects over a few drinks in the dark of the night. This is
an ethos that is strongly fostered within the Randwick club.
Unexpectedly, and to my bemusement, this slowly started to
evolve as interest began to be shown by U/19 and U/21 teams
culminating in my selection in the Australian U/21's in 1999.
I was set on a course unaware of its destination but was happy
enough to sit back and enjoy it in the knowledge that I had
put in a lot of hard work.
My playing involvement with Randwick,
and various other representative sides, will be a time in my
life that I will always hold dear. I have arrived at a point
where I am now enjoying the challenge of transferring the knowledge
and skills I have acquired over the years to those around me,
with coaching becoming a pursuit that I have an absolute passion
for. It has allowed my interest in Rugby to marry well with
my desire to educate, giving me the opportunity to enjoy a
game that I love from a totally different aspect.
Matthew Bowman
DOWN UNDER RUGBY
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* Super 12 NSW Waratah Academy 2000,
2001
* Super 12 NSW Waratah 2002, 2003
*
Australian Barbarian 2001
* Australian
U/21 Representative 1999, 2000
* NSW Country Vs British Lions 2001
*
Randwick Rugby First Grade 1999-2003
*
Bachelor of Education (Human Movement & Health
Education) University of Sydney
* NSW Rugby Union Coach
Certified
*
Australian Rugby Union Smart Rugby Certified
* Coach; St Michaels Dublin Jnr Cup
* 2005
* Coach; Sydney Boys High * 2006
* Specialist Forwards Coach / Assistant Coach
* High School Teacher
* DUR Coaches 2006, 2007
* UNSW Club Coaches (Consultants) 2008
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* NSW Talent Identification Program 1996, 1997
* Australian
Barbarian 2000
* NSW U/19 Representative 1998
* Randwick Rugby Club First
Grade 1999-2002
* Mystic River Rugby Club Boston 2003
* Chicago lions Rugby
Club 2004
* Coach; Chicago Lions Rugby Club 2005 * Specialist
Backs Coach, Skills Coach, Assistant Coach
* Coach; Sydney
Boys High * 2006
* Specialist Backs Coach / Assistant Coach
* Bachelor of
Commerce (Marketing & International
Business) UNSW
* Account Manager * Eyecorp Australia
* NSW Rugby Union
Coach Certified
* Australian Rugby Union Smart Rugby Certified
* DUR Coaches 2006, 2007
* UNSW Club Coaches (Consultants) 2008
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