2011 Annual General Meeting Presidents Report 2011 brought much change to rugby and presented some challenges to NSW Juniors. Funding was most significantly affected with the completion of the 'Community Rugby hand-back' to the ARU. In prior years, the ARU had funded NSW Community Rugby via a $1.95m grant. This grant was administered by NSW Rugby and NSW Juniors & its members benefited from this grant. With the completion of the funding return, NSW Rugby advised they were not able to maintain the same funding. This has seen a reduction in administrative resources from 3 full time staff to 1 full time employee providing administrative resources to Sydney Juniors. NSW Juniors & NSW Country Juniors continue to be administered by volunteers. The application of Community Rugby funding is now determined by the ARU with little reference to the organisations who are the beneficiaries. The NSWJRU State Championships were again a wonderful spectacle of the talent produced by Juniors development programs. We were unfortunate to lose the sponsorship of the Waratahs, but that did not diminish their moral support and much of the squad attended for presentations and photograph opportunities with the crowd. Thank you to the many rugby dignitaries who attended the State Championships. While their presence is not apparent to the greater public, their attendance is recognition of the importance of juniors to the development of the code. In particular, thank you to Robbie Deans, Gen. Peter Cosgrove, John Mumm, Jason Allen, Peter Medway, John Spana, Geoff Garland, Chris Birch, John Coolican, Bruce Worboys and Will Jeffcott. Having these distinguished guests present to support Juniors as well as helping out with the presentations helps immensely to market our code. Special thanks to ARU CEO, John O'Neill, who accepted an invitation to attend the State Championships. This gesture of good-will allowed the mending of relationships to begin after the tension of the U16 National championships issues. During the conversations that followed, NSW Juniors, Sydney Juniors & Country Juniors politely, but firmly, pushed to gain an understanding of the problem the ARU sought to solve by cutting NSW from 3 teams to 2 in NSW jerseys. While the preferred solution was made clear by the ARU, the reason for it was not. However, the ARU has agreed to maintain the status quo to allow sufficient time for the Australian Junior Rugby Union to prepare a proposal to take back the operation of the U16 National tournament. NSW JUNIOR RUGBY UNION Gold Members Car Park, Driver Ave Moore Park. Locked Bag 1222 Paddington NSW 2021 Telephone: 0437 200 015 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.juniors.rugbynet.com.au The NSWJRU U15 Regional Championships were again combined with the SJRU U16 tournament. Hosted by Blacktown rugby club, the ‘regionals’ are an opportunity to showcase the product of junior rugby and to continue the pathway for talented junior players. The combined tournament also represents great opportunity for talent identification staff at the ARU and Super Rugby franchises. Special thanks to Chris Alcock & Tom Kingston from the Waratahs for their help & support with the U15 Regional Dinner. The annual City vs Country carnival was held at Sylvania showcasing the strength and talent of Junior Club rugby in NSW. Players came from all of over NSW and all had equal selection opportunities for NSWJRU State teams. This year we selected 3 teams … U15, U16 & U17. All boys are required to participate in the City/Country tournament in order to gain selection in a NSW team. Exemption was granted to 4 boys in the U16 age group who had been selected by either Sydney or Country U16s but were required to withdraw from these teams as a result of their selection by the NSW Schools team. QLD Juniors travelled to Sydney to play against NSW Juniors & ACT Juniors on October 2-3. Queensland have done well to develop their 15’s and 17’s in recent years. In 2010, NSW U15s were triumphant in a spirited and well fought game. The Queensland U17s were a very impressive team. In 2011, NSW was successful in all 3 age groups … U15, U16 & U17. The achievement of the U17s is particularly important and we have not won in that ager group for a long long time. Next year, however, will be a different story following the powerful display of QLD at the U16 Nationals. Results for 2011 Under 15’s vs ACT (George Smith Shield): NSWJRU Under 15’s vs QLD (Jason Little Shield): NSWJRU Undert 16's Vs QLD NSWJRU Under 17’s vs ACT (Stirling Mortlock Shield): NSWJRU Under 17’s vs QLD (Chris Latham Shield): NSWJRU Many thanks to coaches Bill Bell (U/15s), Michael Kelynack & Andy Webber (U/16s) and Ian Rea (U17s), including their respective teams, for the outstanding effort in preparing and developing the players. The 3 Junior Unions received genuine support from NSW rugby and this made a significant and positive difference in running their activities during the year. We sincerely appreciate the strong support and assistance from John Spana, Will Jephcott, Bruce Worboys, Mark Green, Jason Allen and Chris Hickey for the NSWJRU Rep Program. Paul Taylor, President NSW JUNIOR RUGBY UNION Gold Members Car Park, Driver Ave Moore Park. Locked Bag 1222 Paddington NSW 2021 Telephone: 0437 200 015 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.juniors.rugbynet.com.au ABN 16 160 657 516 Secretary 47 Albion St Umina Beach NSW 2257 Mobile 0401 684 946 e-mail: [email protected] Website: www.countryjuniors.com.au Presidents Report 2011 NSWCJRU has enjoyed a successful 2011 both on and off the field due to the dedication of its volunteers. The backbone behind NSWCJRU is our Secretary – Mr Brad King, who does an enormous amount of work behind the scenes that usually, goes unnoticed but without Brad and his workload NSWCJRU would not be the successful organisation that it is today. To all the other executive members a huge thankyou from me for all your hard work in your various roles and especially to Penny and husband Shep who manage all the gear and get the kids kitted out and on the paddock or to there respective events in the correct gear, this is a huge task just in itself and you will be hard to replace after 8 years in the role. To the wonderful support of our sponsors – Classic Sportswear (On & Off Field Apparel), Spartan Sports(Balls and Training Equipment), Virgin Blue (Our Official Airline), Discovery Tours (Our Travel Agent), Sapphire One Software, (Our Computer Software suppliers), Me cure Rafertys Resort – Lake Macquarie, Central Coast Photographics, Cliff Dykes Photography, NSW Rugby Union and the many other smaller contributions from business’s like our own employers who have contributed to the financial success of NSWCJRU. I must also express my thanks and gratitude to NSW Country Rugby Union (Terry Woodward and his board), NSW Rugby Union (Bruce Worboys CEO and Mike Doyle and all your staff), NSW Junior Rugby Union (Paul Taylor and committee), ARU High Performance Unit, and John Spana (NSWRU Youth Director) for all your continued support for the boys from the bush. I would like to make a special mention and NSWCJRU sincere thanks from all involved to the support of the boys from the bush shown by John Spana – Youth Director to the NSWRU Board and to Paul Taylor – NSWJRU & ARJRU President. The support that these two passionate junior rugby volunteers have for Country Juniors is simply unbelievable and it is due to there persistence, dedication and determination that the NSWCJRU Under 16’s team got to compete at this years 2011 National Championships, and it will be there support again in 2012 that will get NSWCJRU competing again in 2012. NSWCJRU needs to actively support the work and time that both John & Paul dedicate to Junior Rugby so that we make sure that we continue to keep the pathways for Junior Players from the bush open and accessible. Two of the highlights of 2011 and like always there were many to choose from for me were the finals of the Under 12’s and Under 18’s Country Championships at Tamworth, the Under 12’s final was one of the best Games of Junior Rugby anyone could witness, contested between Central North & Central West – the two zones with biggest distances to travel week in week out just to play and train. After two great halves of football they were still locked up at 7 all at fulltime and had to play extra time to get a result with Central North finally coming out on top in a thriller. Secondly was the Under 18’s final between Illawarra and a Barbarians team combining Hunter and Central Coast who prior to the championships had only one training session, borrowed some jerseys, got together on the morning of the championships and had a run together and then went on to win the championships. This group of players were just thrown together basically in any position they suited, and it was there dedication to the game and there desire to play rugby that made them competitive. It was the generous support and effort of there Coach Steve Watson and Manager Mel Bates that got them to the championships in the first place – so congratulations. To all the other age groups and teams that competed, well done and congratulations on your efforts. Congratulations to all the players that were selected for NSWCJRU in 2011, you showed the true Country Spirit and pride in wearing the Country Jersey. To all the coaches, managers, trainers, Physios and water runners from all age group’s thank you for your time and dedication to your teams and especially to Junior Rugby in general.