Build numbers – that’s the Group 20 Junior Rugby League committee’s main goal for the upcoming season.
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Junior numbers have been on the decline over the past few years and new president Matt Sheldrick wants to turn that around.
“We’re losing too many kids, it’s about two teams a year,” Sheldrick said.
“We need to give them the opportunity to play [rugby league].”
The first initiative Group 20 JRL will trial in 2017 will be an under 15 boys competition – the Ken Carroll Shield – and under 16s girls league tag competition – the Pat Godfrey Shield – to be played on Friday nights.
The competitions will be played between Leeton and Griffith in an eight-week format.
An under 15s competition has been trialled before but there was a lack of teams due to conflicts with under 16s football.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever done it under lights with the 15s boys and 16s girls,” Sheldrick said.
“The competition is endorsed by CRL and Group 20 seniors.
“Having it on a Friday night means they [players] have time to play on Saturday and Sunday in the under 16s too.
“We want to bridge that gap. For the girls especially, it’s too big a step up from juniors to seniors.”
Matches in the junior competition will be played at several different venues.
The central competition will see Griffith, Leeton, Coleambally-Darlington Point (CDP) and Narrandera all host matches.
Hay and Lake Cargelligo will follow their seniors to play a home and away season.
When each Group 20 senior club travels to take on Hay or Lakes, its junior club will also travel to the towns to take on their junior sides.
The draw was released on Friday with some key dates locked in.
Jubilee Oval in Griffith – for Yenda Black and Whites and Waratahs – and Leeton’s No. 1 Oval – for Leeton, CDP and Narrandera – will host registration days on Monday, February 13 at 4pm while the Cronulla Sharks are in town.
Kids are welcome to come along and meet the Sharks and sign up to a rugby league club.
The group will also hold two come and try days.
They will be held on March 25 in Leeton and April 1 in Griffith.
There is no cost as CRL will cover the cost of insurance but kids will still need to register to play.
Group 20 is also after junior referees. A practical course will be held on March 28.
Sheldrick urged anyone interested in getting involved in rugby league – as a referee, player or volunteer – to head to playnrl.com and register or contact their local club or contact Sheldrick on 0429 049 603.