Representatives from all clubs in Western Plains Rugby Union - Brewarrina/Bourke, Cobar, Gular, Warren, Walgett, Coonamble and Nyngan - gathered at the Nevertire Hotel last Saturday for the zone’s Annual General Meeting.

There were so many squeezed around the table at the pre-season meeting that former president Greg Whiteley commented, “this is the most people we’ve had at an AGM for many years.”

Dubbo-based NSW Rugby development officers Angus McDonald and Luke Mack were also in attendance as well as veteran referee Neil Newton (Walgett).

Newly elected office bearers: President Tom Cullen (Coonamble), Vice Presidents Troy Yeomans (Walgett) and Matthew Slack-Smith (Brewarrina), co-Secretaries Ange Hanigan (Coonamble) and Vivian Slacksmith (Brewarrina), Treasurer Brent Barwick (Warren), Judiciary Sophie Holmes (Nyngan), Ben Jenkins (Gular) and Milton Quigley (Warren).

Angus McDonald delivered a presentation describing the future of rugby in the zone, acknowledging that strength and numbers would only come from continuing junior development.

“If you take a snapshot of all zones, from player numbers to volunteer support, the current trends are not good for NSW Rugby; it needs to put more money into development – and it has,” Mr McDonald said.

Western Plains is all too familiar with the challenge of maintaining numbers, with the Brewarrina and Bourke clubs forced to merge in 2021 due to a lack of players.

As Mr McDonald explained, money from the NSW Positive Rugby Foundation and Paul Ramsay Foundation has contributed to programs in primary and high schools across the western area. The Positive Rugby Foundation was formed in 2017 as the official charity and social impact program of NSW Rugby while the Paul Ramsay Foundation is one of the biggest philanthropic foundations in Australia.

“In 2022 Western Plains was the most resourced zone in NSW with 4.5 full time staff in Dubbo. We had 200 in-school participants and 387 kids playing rugby regularly, with 35 gala days across the zone.”

Sydney has three development officers and this year NSW Western Development has 10 working across the zone, with Mr McDonald saying “The future will be a west to east progression for players”.

Former Western Plains Zone President Greg Whiteley (centre) with NSW Rugby Development Officers Luke Mack and Gus McDonald.

In 2022/2023 NSWRU partnered with Department of Regional Youth to deliver support to run 90 holiday camps, investing over $800,000 throughout Central West, Central North and Western Plains.

“Our aim is to have 1500 registered juniors in Western Plains this year and 500 school players.

All this requires financial commitment from clubs in the zone, with $50,000 asked for as seed funding. “If we don’t need that money, we won’t use it but we have to have a buffer. Every dollar raised in Western Plains will stay in Western Plains.”

Neil Newton spoke about the refereeing situation across the zone, emphasising there aren’t enough match officials or referees. “Coaches should be accredited to referee but that is not required currently for the ladies’ games,” said Mr Newton. “We do need consistency in the refereeing rules for the girls’ games though.”

Mr McDonald acknowledged this area would also be worked on in the development space.

“We are working with Regional NSW and creating chances regarding an employment program for high school student doing a Cert 3 in Sports Coaching,” he said.

“From here the students will be able to provide coaching support for juniors, match official support and game administration support while being employed by NSWRU.”

"This should help with transition into clubs while also helping to support those clubs. NSWRU and its partners will also be investing a large amount into the schools in western NSW through the Tackle Life Program.”

To tackle or not to tackle - that was the question for Western Plains women's rugby.

Another issue up for discussion was the development of the women's game across the zone.

This year will be the third year of the Touch Sevens competition, with a number of girls now looking to progress into tackle rugby.

Club representatives agreed not all women wanted to play tackle but the committee resolved to have a number of pre-season gala days with the view to progression into a tackle competition in 2024 for those interested.

Western Plains will field a team for the NSW Country Championships in Tamworth on the June long weekend with coaching from Charlie Friend (Walgett), Rory Finlayson (Brewarrina) and Blair Hooper (Warren), and John Azar (Warren) as strapper.

The first round of the Western Plains Rugby Union 2023 season commences Saturday 29 April, with the draw to be finalised in coming days.