GOLD COAST RUGBY EYE FUTURE

GOLD Coast rugby union is in the midst of a massive player dearth in its top ranks, after three first grade sides withdrew from its premier competition.

However, Gold Coast District Rugby Union community development manager Brookyln Manu said the game was still approaching a position of strength and sustainability.

Helensvale Hogs withdrew due to player numbers, while Palm Beach Currumbin did the same. Now, after their Round 1 clash was cancelled, Coomera Crushers will also line up in second grade this week, leaving just five teams in the elite competition.

Manu said the problem was not so much with regards to a lack of number. Rather the issue lay in the contested scrums, with the clubs not convinced they had the personnel in place to perform them.

“With the first grade it’s not really a matter of where they’ve gone, it’s about who they’ve lost. A big part of the game is the front row forwards, your scrums – people that love rugby love a good scrum,” she said.

“From my understanding it’s that there’s a lot of clubs who have absolutely lost their players in those positions. That’s what’s going on with our clubs, they’re not in a position where they’re confident and have the right players in those positions

“You can’t throw anyone in there and pack a scrum, it’s a really challenging position.

“One of the things that came out of the strategy meeting was we need to invest in making sure our players are confident front rowers. No one wants to see anyone go uncontested or get hurt either. We want to make sure any rugby is safe rugby.”

Manu said historically the region had benefited from overseas university students filling those positions. But since the Covid-19 pandemic she said these students have no longer been around to fill those positions, therefore the focus had honed in on grassroots development.

Manu said the GCDRU would be implementing their schools rugby program for free, after a sustained period where the game was largely played in private school set ups.

She said by engaging the next generation, the goal was to ensure those young players continued to play and provided the platform to sustain the senior ranks long term.

“I guess we’re at a point we know we have to rebuild and that’s where all our resources are going,” Manu said. Our way to combat that is go in for free. We’re going to take our own coaches from club land and Queensland Rugby. “We’re not in touch with our schools, a lot of people still think rugby union is that privileged sport the private school kids get to play and we need to change that perception.

“Grassroots is key, if we’re not in touch with our young kids then we’re never going to have teams in any grade in the future.”