Around 150 school children got the chance to try rugby for the first time recently, thanks to the sport’s introduction to Primary Schools Sports Association’s Coastal Cup.
Taking its name from the Sydney Coastal Zone schools that participate, this year saw rugby union join 14 sports including league and AFL in the seven-week competition.
The inaugural rugby competition took place at Centennial Park and was contested by 40 teams from 12 schools. It culminated in a two week finals series for Under 9s, 10s and 12s, which finished last Friday. For many of the 400-plus youngsters, the tournament was their first taste of rugby union.
There to lend a hand and offer words of encouragement to those participating were HSBC Waratahs John Ulugia, Kane Douglas, Paddy Ryan and Tom Kingston.
“The kids were really excited, lots were newcomers to rugby but they picked it up really quickly,” said 21-year-old wing Kingston.
“We really enjoyed running around with them, giving them tips and pointers on the go. They seemed to respond really well and they didn’t need any encouragement to run around, they were always moving and practically buzzing they all had so much energy.
“With sevens coming into the Olympics, it’s really exciting to give kids the chance to get involved and experience what rugby can offer, particularly the health, enjoyment and social factors.”
According to NSW Development Manager for the region Mark Bos, the event was such a success that the PSSA have already confirmed rugby’s place in the 2013 event.
“We were invited by the zone to introduce rugby union as a new experience for the children this year. At least a third of the children there hadn’t played union before and we were really impressed with how quickly they adapted from playing league relatively easily.
“The level of improvement we saw over the seven weeks of competition was a great, as was the enthusiasm from all the youngsters competing and the parents that were there to support them. We had over 100 mums and dads there watching the Grand Finals day and we’re looking forward to building on that success in our second year.”
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Grade
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NSW Coastal Cup
2012 State Champions
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Under 12 A
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Bellevue Hill Public School A
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Under 12 B
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Glenmore Rd Public School
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Under 12 C
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Paddington Public School
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Under 12 D
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Double Bay Public School B
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Under 10 A
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Clovelly Public School
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Under 10 B
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Glenmore Road Public School
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Under 10 C
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Bondi Beach Public School
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Under
9 A
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Double Bay Public School
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Under
9 B
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Darlinghurst Public School
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Under
9 C
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Double Bay/Paddington Public Schools combined team
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The Coastal Cup was one of a number of competitions run for school and junior players within NSW. This month has also seen over 250 of the state’s top Under 12 school players contest the PSSA NSW State Carnival held in Armidale last month. Run over three days, the youngsters from 13 teams impressed competition organisers, talent scouts and special guests including HSBC Waratahs’ flanker Pat McCutcheon and former Wallabies and Waratah pair Tim Gavin and Tim Wallace.
A full list of winners will be available from the NSW Government’s Department of Education and Training website shortly.
Last week also saw the culmination of the Sydney Juniors’ season, with the Sydney Juniors Grand Finals contested by 104 teams from Under 10s to Under 17s and opens at numerous venues across the city. All these events were attended and supported by the HSBC Waratahs, with players on hand to offer encouragement and congratulations to all the young players and parents involved. Over the past 11 months, the HSBC Waratahs Community Connection program has seen players and coaches make well over 1000 appearances at around 250 community events across the state.
The last two weeks have also seen coach Alan Gaffney join the Waverley women’s squad for a coaching Q&A and Tom Carter attend the St Andrews Cathedral School’s presentation night.
Every week since last November, an average of five players each attended five different events ranging from Bathurst to Balmoral, Coogee to Coffs Harbour and Gunnedah, Scone and everywhere in between.
The squad has raced Nippers at North Bondi, run hundreds of skills and signing sessions at junior clubs and schools, including Tamworth Tricolours, St Ignatius Riverview, Scone Grammar School and Prairiewood High School, and supported charity and community events such as the Starlight Children’s Foundation Christmas party, NAIDOC week, Weetbix Sanitarium Triathlon, Triple M’s Family Day, Walk4Life and Harmony Day as well as many, many more.
Aimed at bringing NSW players, supporters and youngsters closer together, the Community Connection program was launched in November 2011 and will continue throughout 2012 and 2013, with a host more school, charity and community events planned for NSW across the season. Photos from all events are posted on the Waratahs Facebook wall.