27 Jun-23: NSW State Champs and Gala Weekends
Dear Parents and Players,
NSW State Champs and Gala Weekends
After a busy few weeks of gala days and State Championshipsfor our U12s through to our U16s I wanted to update you all on Norths Juniors and what we have just achieved, what we have coming up next month and what is planned for the rest of the rep season.
As touched on briefly a couple of weeks back, our U12s through to U16s teams have had some great experiences at their respective State Champs over the June LWE.
Our U12s had a tough pool down in Camden but showed they had the skill and determination to match it with the top teams by drawing with the Grand Finalist and runner-up, Manly. The U12s finished 11th overall.The experience has made the players even hungrier for next year and we can’twait to see how they go with their development over the next 12 months.
A huge thank you to Chris Malone (Coach), Henry Bateman (Asst Coach), Bardia Paki (Trainer) and Sallie Watt (Manager) for giving up their time and energy to help get our players on the field each day and put in their best efforts in the red and black.
Our U13s team travelled to Orange and were constantly coming up against some much bigger opposition throughout their tournament but despite giving away some serious weight difference in the scrums and at the breakdown, all our players came together and played some very skilful rugby and managed to make it through to the semi-finals. In the end, our players achieved a great result by placing 4th overall.
Thank you to Scott Dalibozek (Coach), Cameron Douglass (Asst Coach), Grant Boorman (Trainer) and John Perkins (Manager) for all your efforts with the players over the weekend.
Our U14s had an incredible tournament in Dubbo. After losing the Grand Final to Warringah in the Sydney Cup on Sunday the players backed up and went one better on Monday in the NSW State Championships by winning the Grand Final against the ACT Junior Rugby Union Brumbies in a nail-biter (22-17).
The players were well supported by Coach Gus Spence, Asst Coach Ed Abbott, Trainer Alf Garcia-Bennett and Manager Kent Hopper.
A huge effort by all and I am sure they all can’t wait to defend the trophy in 12 months’ time.
After travelling to Orange last year, our U15s were in Concord this year. It was another big tournament for our players finishing 5th overall on Sunday in the Sydney Cup before finishing a respectable 7th in the NSW State Championships on Monday.
A big thanks to Sam Maley (Coach), Jack Upton (Asst Coach), the trainers Nick Taylor and Phil Gacitua and Justine Perkins (Manager) for all their efforts over the long weekend.
Our U16s travelled to Port Macquarie. For some this was their 7th State Champs after starting in the U10s many years ago. After some early tough matches, our players got into their rhythm and ended up finishing 6th in the Sydney Cup tournament on Sunday. With momentum on their side our team entered the NSW State Champs on Monday ready to finish off the tournament in strong form making it all the way to the Plate Grand Final where they finished second to Warringah, securing 10th overall.
Thanks to Coach Ben Furby, Asst Coach Will Nicholl, Trainer Gary Chapman and our Manager Lou Davies for keeping our players focussed and committed over the weekend. A huge effort for some of these parents too after being involved in the Norths Juniors reps program from the U10s, also.
On behalf of all the NSJRU Exec Committee I would like to congratulate all the players and parents, coaches, assistants, trainers and managers for helping make this our biggest year for Norths Juniors to date.
We would also like to extend our congratulations to all those players who have been selected for higher representative honours and wish you all the best this coming weekend as you trial for Sydney in your respective teams.
Of course, while the NSW State Champs have been run and won,our U10s, U11s and U12 Dev teams have been training very hard for their upcoming championships.
The U12 Dev team players are playing at North Narrabeen onthe 8th and 9th July in the SJRU Gala and the U10 Red and Blacks and U11 Red and Blacks are playing at Granville on the 15th and 16th July at the NSWJRU Gala.
All these players have been giving up their Sunday afternoons trialling and training as they get ready to perform in their red and black kit. For some of these players it is their first time in reps and we are very excited for them.
This Saturday afternoon all 5 teams will be presented their jerseys at North Sydney Oval prior to 1st Grade’s kick-off against Sydney University.
We encourage all Norths Juniors players, past and present to come down in your red and black and support our young rep players as they arepresented their jersey and then stay on and support Norths 1st XV asthey tear Sydney Uni apart.
NSW 7s State Champs 2023 at Forster
I am excited to announce that we have entered teams into the NSW 7s State Championships in Forster in late September/early October and wewill start trialling for these teams in late August.
We have registered teams in the U13s Boys, U15 Girls, U15 Boys and U17 Boys State Champs. The U13s play on the 23-25 September and the U15s and up play on the 6-8 October.
This tournament presents some great pathways to future 7s honours with NSW and beyond.
If anyone wants any further information, feel free to emailme or stay on our 2023 Rep Chat for further updates over the coming weeks.
For those keen to get their names in the mix for trials, please nominate here. Nominations will be open until late July but best get in quick so we can hit the ground running once trial dates are announced.
In further exciting news, Mosman and Norths Pirates have also entered their own teams for the NSW 7s Gala which will also be played at Forster on the same weekend as our U13s Norths Juniors are playing. If U11 players from Drummoyne and Hunters Hill want to put a team together, reach outto your Club Presidents and/or Team Managers and they can provide you with any further information you may require.
Thank you to everyone for your support of our reps program for the first 6 months of 2023. We still have plenty of rugby to go over the coming few months so enjoy the school break (but not the break from rugby!) and we look forward to crossing paths on the sidelines in the coming weeks andmonths.
Cheers,
Nathan
President – NSJRU