Gow was elected president at this month’s AGM, and is keen to return to a playing status.
Helping achieve that goal will be a dedicated executive of stalwart players and supporters, which includes Paul Marshall as vice president, secretary Robert Scott and treasurer/public officer Michael Pisasale.
In charge of sponsorship and social event coordinator is Tim Strong and Ben Grant will be social media coordinator.
Rounding out the leadership group will be general committee members Nathan Holahan, John Barlow and Joe Gogarty.
Despite having a relatively strong 2023 season, the Deni Drovers made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Southern Inland Rugby Union competition in 2024.
The decision was made a few weeks before the competition was due to start, due to a lack of players.
Gow said the first task for the committee is to set out a roadmap for the club to get back to where they once were.
He said the top priority will be to field a men’s side, and then build on that.
“It is what we’re working out now with the Southern Inland Rugby Union competition,” he said.
“They have been fantastic with what we’re trying to do with the club; very supportive of what we’re trying to do.
“And we’re always aiming to have a senior side, then hopefully build upon that for other teams - like females and juniors.”
A major drive for fielding a side in 2025 is because 2025 marks the 40th anniversary of the Deniliquin Drovers.
They have already started planning celebrations, which will include an ‘old boys’ reunion - a gathering of ex-players - to coincide with the King’s Birthday long weekend in June.
“With things like COVID and individual work commitments, it becomes hard to keep the community as strong as you’d like,” Gow said.
“But we want to build the strongest community we can.
“Part of that will be our connection with past players, involving premiership winners and long-time servants of the club.”
Gow said even during this year’s season, the committee has been working in the background on the future of the club.
“The committee has always been there.
“We were close last year to getting a team back out there, unfortunately work commitments were a factor for interested players.
“I think COVID really knocked the club, as I imagine it did other sporting clubs.
“It pushed some guys toward retirement, opting to hang up the boots as opposed to waiting to play on.”
As work on the season proper and player recruitment continues, the Deni Drovers are hosting touch rugby night on Thursday nights.
Hosted at Deniliquin Rotary Park from 6pm, these nights give locals a chance to continue playing a form of the game they love.
If you are interested in playing touch or being involved with the full contact rugby union game, get down to Rotary Park and speak with players and committee members.
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