Standing the test of time three decades on

DHL and the Northern Suburbs Rugby Club in Sydney, Australia, have been working hand in hand for more than 30 years – a relationship of which both sides are immensely proud.

DHL’s long-standing partnership with Sydney’s Northern Suburbs Rugby Club was born out of a distinctive relationship.

“One of DHL Australia’s founding executives David Allen was a player for Norths,” says Gary Edstein, CEO and Senior Vice President, DHL Express Oceania, and long-time rugby player and coach. “Though he eventually left Australia and Norths to expand DHL’s business in Europe, the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa, the unique relationship between the company and the club remained.”

Three decades on, DHL remains a proud supporter of Norths and still has a number of employees who are directly involved in the club.

“For a partnership spanning decades, this longevity is something we take immense pride in,” adds Gary.

The same is true for Northern Suburbs Rugby Club. In fact, it was the parallels between DHL and Norths that made this partnership work from the very beginning:  a sense of pride in their respective organizations, a dedication to the community, a belief in team play, and an unwavering passion for what they do. These shared values still hold true today, and they’re the reason that the relationship is as strong as ever.

Better the Player, Better the Person and Better the Community
Founded in 1900, Norths are deeply rooted in the community, with the club’s overarching goal to: “Better the Player, Better the Person and Better the Community,” says Grahame O’Donnell, President of Northern Suburbs Rugby Club. 

“Northern Suburbs always strive to find the best possible people to lead our players,” he says. “We take great care in finding coaches who will improve our players on-field but also live by our desire to make the player a better person and give him or her the best chance of success in whatever field they choose down the track. An excellent starting point for this is the engagement of our community, as all of our coaches and players are encouraged to participate in community events and fund raisers.” 

The club’s dedication to this goal has not only created strong family bonds within the community, it has also produced some world-class players.

“DHL are part of the Northern Suburbs family and have always understood the sense of community that grass roots rugby brings.”

Grahame O’Donnell, President of Northern Suburbs Rugby Club

Given that DHL is a big fan of community grass roots rugby and also partners with leading global events like Rugby World Cup and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, the Northern Suburbs appreciate their relationship with the global logistics company. 
 
“DHL sponsor a number of high profile sporting teams, but our partnership has stood the test of time,” says Grahame. “After 30 plus years, DHL is part of the Northern Suburbs family and has always understood the sense of community that grass roots rugby brings.”

The Shute Shield of Sydney, the traditional capital city league in which Norths compete, is one of the highest levels of domestic competition.  

“Every year, as rugby programmes become more competitive and resources are stretched, we have found that the ability to give our coaches and players the best chance to reach their aspirations can only be done with the assistance of amazing partners, like DHL,” says Grahame.

“For us at DHL, Good Hands are everything.”

Gary Edstein, CEO and Senior Vice President, DHL Express Oceana

Good hands both on and off the pitch
DHL feels at home in the Norths’ family as well. It ties us and our people to the community. Rugby clubs work hard to provide their communities with a priceless public service. Through rugby, DHL can play an integral role in support of these efforts.

“Through our partnership with Norths, we are given the opportunity to support the club’s tremendous efforts in bringing together members from all demographics of the community, providing mentorship, and instilling discipline and the value of teamwork in our future citizens,” says Gary.

When it comes down to it, this mutually beneficial relationship is about being in good hands. Having good hands is the foundation of good rugby. The same can be said in the logistics business.

“For us at DHL, good hands are everything,” adds Gary. “Having the good hands required to deliver the millions of parcels we transport every day is absolutely crucial. The very nature of our business requires us to operate with absolute precision and speed. We put these good hands to work in our partnership with Norths.”

Knowing that you can rely on one another – that you’re in good hands – is a tie that binds. And it’s a strong reason why the partnership between DHL and the Northern Suburbs Rugby Club has stood the test of time.

Find out more about the Norths community by visiting the club’s website here. 

Why is rugby in Good Hands with DHL? Read more here.