The Rogues Christmas Rant

[seonajmulislam00]

Season 2014 looks like a season of change for Rugby in more ways than one. Even though Campbelltown have decided to remain in the Sydney Suburban comp and not return to Illawarra, there will still be a revamp for Illawarra Rugby. The new competition format to be introduced next year will see the competition divided into two divisions. The Premier Division will consist of 9 clubs each with First Grade, Second Grade and Colts, but with each club being allowed a transitional period of 1 year to achieve the full complement of teams.

The clubs that should make up the Premier Division are phone number list Avondale, Bowral, Camden, Kiama, Shamrocks, Shoalhaven, Tech Waratahs, University, and Vikings. Vincentia have indicated their desire to return to Illawarra Rugby in 2014 and will go into the First Division competition. Other clubs expected to field teams in First Divison are Avondale, Camden, Engadine, Tech Waratahs, University, Vikings, and Wollondilly. Both Divisions will complete the season with a four team Final Series. Change is never easy, but it is hard argue after several years of disjointed fixtures, with an abundance of Byes throughout the season that such a change is more than warranted.

The recent announcement by ARU Chief, Bill Pulver, regarding the introduction of the National Rugby Championship in 2014, was music to my ears. An 8 to 10 team national competition will be played from late August with teams from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Canberra and even possibly from NSW Country. Many rugby tragics will tell you that a third tier competition in Australia is long overdue. Mr. Pulver however has a lot of work to do over the next few months to ensure some of the political interference of the past doesn’t get in the way of this much needed initiative.

There are plenty of rumors doing the rounds about coach movements in the Illawarra for next year. From what I hear there will no changes at Camden with Brendon Schoupp in charge again. Although the word is assistant coach Paul Mulready has agreed to return to Bowral for 2014 where former Vikings premiership winning coach Phil Green will be his assistant. Changes also at Shamrocks where lower grade coach and longtime Shamrock, Mark Joy will take over the first grade job. This seasons coaches Richard Thompson and Dion Miller have made the move to University, and reports are a number of Rocks players will follow them across. I’ll keep you posted on any more changes as they come to light. Let me know if you hear of any other changes.