Image
Camera IconImage Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Rugby Union: Perth-Bayswater junior success makes up for senior’s disappointing season

Kristie LimEastern Reporter

Chairman Paul Mannion said he was proud of the juniors.

“Our under-15s claimed gold and our under-16s also won gold as they won their grand final; they have been quite successful throughout the season. Our under-11s also won the Swan competition,” he said.

Mannion said there were about 350 juniors across the club and its sister club Ellenbrook but not many transitioned into the seniors.

PerthNow Digital Edition.
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“The club has been good at finding junior players but we just have problems retaining them in the senior ranks,” he said.

“We run an academy and that ran last year… it identified the talent and for those in the academy, it just gives them a taste of professional.

“Our 20s have come through our junior ranks and they have gone into that adult rugby and their next transition is to go to the second grade.”

He said the club was looking to upgrade facilities to develop their rising number of juniors.

“We are slowly working there… the whole area there has been earmarked and there is going to be some changes there, so I guess it is just a matter of getting the planning right,” he said.

“Last year, the council (City of Bayswater) made available a new gear shed and we had a power upgrade this year as well.”