Royal Randwick Fruit Market passes ball to Mark Ella

The Randwick Rugby Club has turned to one of its biggest legends Mark Ella in an attempt to revisit the Galloping Greens glory days.

Having recently returned to Sydney after almost two decades coaching around the world, and a brief stint in sports marketing, Ella was pleased to be back with the Wicks, where his career began, to act as an assistant coach and spokesman.

"I'm there to advise, to look at the players' techniques and styles, and make sure if they want to play the running game that they've got the skills to do it," he said.

Ella said his role was to also to share the club's proud history.

"While we can never emulate the golden eras we do want to try and bring back running rugby, and at the same time we want the players to understand what they're playing for," Ella said.

Club general manager Tony Lewis said the club was re-engaging with the community and strengthening its relationship with local businesses.  "With Mark Ella coming on board and the Royal Randwick Fruit Market sponsoring us, it shows that we understand the local community is our bread and butter.

"Not just from the players' point of view, but also on a level that enables us to survive and put the rugby programs into local schools and community clubs."

New board member and former Wallaby Simon Poidevin said Ella was one of the greats of both the Randwick Rugby Club and Australian rugby.

"I know from coaching juniors over the past couple of years that he will bring a presence and knowledge to those young players that they can carry with them through all their rugby playing days ahead," he said. Click for Southern Courier article