Temora and Cootamundra rugby union clubs are the latest of three clubs including Young to announce leaving Southern Inland Rugby Union (SIRU) for another competition.
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As Young heads to the ACT’s Premier Rugby Competition, Cootamundra and Temora will join the Central West Competition.
Also lining up for the 2016 season in the Central West is West Wyalong, Condobolin, Grenfell, Canowindra, Orange Ag College and Blayney.
Temora’s call to split, driven by players, was a unanimous executive decision at the AGM on Thursday night.
The move cuts down travel time, with their furthest trip being to Blayney rather than Deniliquin, and gives Temora a more even footing.
Temora president Jared Maxwell said competing against “powerhouse” SIRU clubs has been an uphill battle.
We’ve been the bottom of the pecking order in SIRU, and we’re hoping that we’ll be close to the top in the Central West.
- Temora president Jared Maxwell
“We’ve been the bottom of the pecking order in SIRU, and we’re hoping that we’ll be close to the top in the Central West,” Maxwell said.
Based in rugby league and Aussie Rules heartland, and with meagre funds in the piggy bank to lure elite talent, the Temora club struggles to draw players.
When close rivals Young and Cootamundra announced they were considering a move, Temora lost interest in SIRU.
“In losing Young and Coota, we lose our local rivals; they make our season worthwhile,” Maxwell said.
It had been hoped that Young would also join the Central West competition, however the ACT competition proved more viable.
“It enables our first and second grade to travel together and provides a pathway for juniors,” Young president Mick Hudson said.
The one-grade league in the Central West suits Temora and Cootamundra to a tee.
Cootamundra president Bob Scott said the decision to leave SIRU was made easy in the end, when SIRU hierarchy said that if they were to field only one team they’d have to play third grade.
This was despite the Tricolours winning the second grade Romano’s Cup grand final last year.
After years of the Cootamundra club mixing it with the best and continuing to attract good crowds at both home and away games to promote the sport, Mr Scott said he is disappointed SIRU were not more flexible, however he is looking to the future.
“We are really excited,” Scott said.
The Central West competition offers a women’s sevens league, and though it’s weaker than SIRU’s equivalent, Temora’s women’s team will join the men in the switch.
“We do have a very competitive women’s side, we want to be the driving force in the competition,” Maxwell said.
Cootamundra, who have not fielded a sevens team in the past, hope to do so.
SIRU will reconvene, with the possibility of not splitting the competition on the cards, considering there will be eight first grade teams in the league.
