Western Plains Rugby Union have decided to call it a day on the 2021 rugby union season, after a zone meeting late last week saw all clubs in attendance voting for the season to be abandoned. 

The decision comes almost three weeks after the major semi-final game to be held in Nyngan was postponed following cases of Covid-19 in the region. 

 Western Plains Rugby Union (WPRU) President Peter Holcombe says that the ‘return to play’ instructions set by Rugby Australia were too challenging for the clubs to meet, which required all teams to engage in two weeks of training prior to resuming play.

With even training unable to commence until at least September 10, as well as uncertainty around the allowance of crowds, too many factors meant that the return of the season would come too late in the year, and with too many complications. 

“By then we’ll probably run into hot weather, and if we push into October then the players around Coonamble and Walgett will be thinking about starting harvest,” Mr Holcombe said. 

Walgett and Nyngan were set to play each other heading into the semi-finals in the men’s’ competition, the winner going up against Warren in the finals.

Meanwhile the women’s competition was still in full swing, with only Cobar and Bourke out of running. 

While the season came to an abrupt ending, there were many standouts for 2021, including the commencement of the women’s competition with teams entered from every club except for Nyngan. 

Another highlight of the year was Nyngan’s Bogan Bulls men’s XV team, who went undefeated through the entirety of the home and away season, an accomplishment that, according to Mr Holcombe, hasn’t been seen since Coonamble in the early 2010s.

There’s still excitement on the horizon for a big rugby union season in 2022, with the women’s’ competition set to continue with hopes that there will be an opportunity for tackle games to run as well as the existing touch games. 

“The women’s’ games were really well received this year, so we’ll keep that going. For the moment, it’s just touch but there’s building interest in tackle,” Mr Holcombe said.

“This year is a stepping stone in the direction of big things for women’s rugby on the Western Plains,” he said. 

Next year, Mr Holcombe hopes to build up the numbers and strength of each club. While Bourke were unable to form a men’s’ side this year – instead joining with the Brewarrina club to form a team – the aim of WPRU is to get each club competing on their own again, even if it takes a few years to achieve.

“With the curtain drawn on 2021, we now look forward to a bigger, better, hopefully covid free 2022 Western Plains season!”