F45 franchisee donates gym profits to local Easts Rugby Club

David Allen, the owner of F45 Rose Bay in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs has become a generous donor to the Easts Rugby Club, hoosing to donate 100% of the profits made by his gym.

Having grown up in the area, Allen has many great memories and finds that “the clubs are really almost like a glue that keeps the community together.”

Following the pandemic, Allen found that “people were feeling pretty isolated”, telling the City Hub local news website “everyone was yearning for that grassroot sense of community, and connection.”

To date, Allen has donated $400,000 to the rugby community, helping fund over 450 junior players and 220 senior players to continue to play.

Dedicated to supporting Easts Rugby Club, Allen notes “we don’t really get any funding from the governing bodies. So, it’s all up to us to raise the money through sponsorship and benefactors.”

With most of the club’s funding coming from sponsors, game day receipts, player registrations, occasional government grants and supporter or community donations, Allen’s support is vital.

His continual funding has contributed to specialist coaching, equipment and education that assist in the development of the club, its players and community.

While in the past also investing in 10 different country clubs that were ‘down with their luck’ after the droughts and bush fires.

The club’s participation numbers are some of the biggest they have ever seen.

In 2022, the club saw six of their 10 senior teams go through to grand finals, making four wins. With many homegrown superstars going on to play as NSW and Australian representative teams.

Following this success, Allen hopes to see the club continue to grow, investing money into the thriving female program. He plans to contribute in the development of female change rooms, along with promoting female involvement and participation which Allen see’s is “absolutely critical going forward.”

Heritage Listing
In the clubs 2022 annual report the club reiterated their 2020 funding agreement with the Office of Sport NSW, that seeks the demolition and refurbishment of the existing change room.

However, they continue to see delays as a result of heritage listing and design approval issues.

Image: The F45 gym proudly supports the Easts Rugby Club. Credit: Facebook.