Is it the end of an era for Ronny Gibbs? Ronny vows to continue support for country kids

Outback Rugby League legend Ronny Gibbs told The Western Herald and 2WEB that he doesn’t know if he’s been sacked or made redundant... Photo: Ian Cole

Story by Tricia Duffield

Legend of rugby league Ronny Gibbs this week confirmed he will no longer be employed by NSW Sport and Recreation, in a role he has held for more than two decades.

On Tuesday, Ronny said his secondment had ended, but not because he had decided to retire. In fact, Ronny said the end of his career with NSW Sport and Recreation had ‘ripped him’, but he was still determined to deliver the 30th anniversary Ronny Gibbs Sevens event in Bourke next month.

Ronny has dedicated his post playing life to promoting rugby league in the bush, empowering youngsters to stay healthy, play sport, stay in school and to aspire in life – a mission he said he will continue despite no longer having the backing of the government run organisation.

“I said to my bosses, am I sacked?” Ronny said. “They said, ‘no, we haven’t sacked you. Your secondment’s run out and you won’t be doing what you’ve been doing for the last 30 years or so’.

“So, I asked ‘what will I be doing?’ and they told me I would be doing office work. I just said, that’s not my job, office work. I can’t sit in the office all day.

“We need people on the ground out in my communities where they really need support. I’m working with health and youth centres and all that. I want to go and see them at the schools, give them a few games or do some clinics with them, which is what I’ve been doing all my life.

“It’s taken away. I’ll be sitting in the office twiddling my thumbs all day, looking at screens. I can’t do it. […]

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