Kicking goals in growth
THE Gold Coast District Rugby Union first grade competition is set to expand for the first time in nine years.
The Palm Beach Currumbin and Coomera are expected to field sides in a boosted eightteam competition in 2020 after spending the previous season in third grade.
The move is a notable step in the right direction for the competition, which shrank to six teams in 2019 when Palm Beach Currumbin were forced to withdraw from first grade due to financial difficulty.
Gold Coast District president Kim Bending said he was confident the Alleygators would return in 2020 but wellplaced sources at the club hinted their comeback was not yet set in stone.
The club, which hit rock bottom in 2019 with debt believed to be in excess of $300,000, have brought themselves back from the brink but must complete financial due diligence before committing to returning to first grade.
Alleygators president Jason Gallagher said in a statement the club was positive about the upcoming season.
“We’re confident moving forwards,” Gallagher said.
“We’re looking forward to a big 2020 and celebrating our 40th anniversary as a club.”
Bending said Gold Coast had cause for excitement with growth at junior levels laying a platform to sustain further expansion in senior rugby.
“We’re introducing under-17 and under-19 divisions
next year so in the next two years you’ll seen an absolute change to our competition,” Bending said. “We’ll have more players available to step up and better depth available in senior rugby.
“Our clubs and presidents have been fantastic in their motivation to continue the growth within our district.”
Winning four of the past five third grade premierships has given Coomera officials confidence the club is ready to step up into first grade.
Avoiding the pitfalls that scuttled their previous attempt in 2011 will be at the forefront of Crushers coach James Askew’s mind.
“We’re going to be a bit more organised and put a bit more effort into getting ready,” Askew said.
“We’ll have more stability in coaching and that will help us build on what we did this year and take it to a new level.
“I’m hoping our players can step up to the challenge. They have got a great opportunity to go from third grade champions to competing in first grade.
“Not too many have achieved that but I hope they relish the challenge.”
Bending said the Crushers’ decision to contest first and second grades and the 2019 James O’Connor Cup for under-19s was a brave decision but one he supported.