New union era arrives
GOLD COAST RUGBY UNION IS SET FOR A DRASTIC REVAMP, AS CONNOR O’BRIEN DISCOVERS
THE Gold Coast District Rugby Union community last month celebrated the return of its management to local hands and the elected sevenperson board have wasted no time in getting to work.
Headed by chairman Kim Bending and deputy Col Johnson, a number of fresh concepts have been floated.
Their proactivity, after a stabilising period under Queensland Rugby Union control, has been lauded by several figureheads in clubland.
Bending sat down with the
to outline his vision for the sport on the Coast.
COUNTRY ROUND
In what is understood to be a first, the competition will next year incorporate a country round.
Round 3 of the senior season on March 24 will be held at remote venues Casuarina, Beaudesert and Tamborine Mountain as part of what is hoped to be an annual event.
“It breaks it up a bit for our clubs and it also adds a bit of value to the clubs that they are playing at,” he said.
FEES
Fees were a hot topic last season. Bending’s response was emphatic: “No change”.
“The ARU and the QRU fees I believe are remaining the same,” he added.
“As far as our district is concerned, there is no change for the next three years. That’s locked in so the clubs, we’re not burdening them with any excess fees.”
JUNIORS
The Gold Coast junior competition only went as far as under-14s last season. Older age division teams had to play against Brisbane sides.
“I frown upon our teams going to Brisbane for rugby,” Bending said. “At this stage, we’re trying to formulate and put into place a number of options for the clubs to say ‘well, stay here’. Play your teams here and good things will come of it.”
CYCLONES
A cornerstone of Bending’s vision is the establishment of a longer, elite Gold Coast Cyclones program to be based at Bond University.
That’s expected to be for men and women, junior and senior. A showpiece fixture too has been lined up for April 21 at Palm Beach Currumbin.
Bending believes providing a high-quality pathway through the Cyclones is critical to revitalising participation among Coast teenagers.
NAME CHANGE
A new name for the sport’s body could be coming: Gold Coast City Rugby Union.
“It is not about a changing of the guard by any means; it’s about a reality check of where we are,” Bending said.
“We are no longer a district … we’re a city and our clubs have to move in that direction – we have to think a little bit bigger and a little bit wider than we have been.”
With a formal process involved, the vote may have to wait until the next AGM.