RUGBY’S BIGGEST FOOTY DEBATE

WEIGHT CHANGE FOR COAST JUNIORS

RUGBY Australia’s new size for age guidelines will help not only smaller kids but those who physically develop faster than the norm, according to a Gold Coast club president.

It was announced during the week that starting this year, all under-10 to under-15 players deemed too big or too small will be assessed as to which age group they should be competing in.

Designed for safety purposes, weight-based competitions are also used in New Zealand junior rugby union.

While perhaps perceived as a means to keep smaller players in the game, Helensvale Hogs president Karl Wernham believes it will also help bigger kids who traditionally would breeze through junior rugby and then find the going tough when others catch up to their size. “It will definitely help the big kids develop their game,” Wernham said.

“They will have to use their skill and teammates.”

Wernham said the concept won’t be hard to manage but does wish it had been introduced at an earlier point in the pre-season for logistical purposes.

“It’s been a great initiative from Rugby Australia to bring in the weight restrictions but doing so at this time of the season and with no other information is a bit frustrating,” he said, given that exact height and weight guidelines are not yet widely available.

“Most clubs around Australia will already be training so to mix some players up now may unsettle teams.”

Rugby Australia head of rugby services Lachlan Clark said size for age was about increasing safety and enjoyment for players in a way that “best suits their physical and personal development”.

“This is the culmination of a review which has been two years in the making and is backed by an extensive research project, which we believe puts Australia at the forefront of world rugby in this area,” he said.