Penrith Emus

[Hugh Jarse]

From the State champs programme it would appear that the Emus Juniors constitute the following:

Western Raptors, Hawkesbury Valley, and Blue Mountains.

There were a few potential "out of district" lads in some of the grades with a couple of lads listed from Hills and Campbelltown Harlequins.

 

[Prodigy]

There was talk of Campbelltown Harlequins joining as a part of Penrith Juniors, with Rooty Hill Raptors, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury Valley.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

There was talk of Campbelltown Harlequins joining as a part of Penrith Juniors, with Rooty Hill Raptors, Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury Valley.

I'm fairly positive they did join Penrith Juniors a few years back but have since returned their junior section back to the Illawarra competition.

 

[Fibrotown Insider]

Penrith District Junior Rugby will be fielding a full compliment of teams in this years NSW Junior State Championships including two under 10s teams. Our teams were published last Friday on the Juniors website. So far this year the juniors have hosted our Summer Junior Rugby Academy from November through to January, a three week rugby carnival - March Minis Madness and our representative trials over two huge weekends. At the invitation Penrith seniors we have also hosted the Waratahs for a junior muster as a prelude to the seniors season launch last Thursday evening.
We have been been re-engaging the community and so far we have 8 District sponsors & some very keen interest from a local organization to fund the commencement of a new junior club. We have a representative muster this Saturday at Nepean Rugby Park. On Friday the 26th April we have a golf day fund raiser for the juniors (we still have a number of holes available for sponsorship) and our representative presentation lunch hosted by one of our sponsors - Emu Sports Club at Leonay. We also have irons in the fire for 2014 corporate sponsorship. The harder we work - the luckier we become. All is looking great for the future of rugby in outer Western Sydney. It may take time - but it will happen.

 

[Fibrotown Insider]

 

[Fibrotown Insider]

This is the Penrith District's Junior Representative uniform for 2013.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

That house in post #105 looks like cavity brick not fibro.

Getting aspirational

Great news to hear of positive results from grass roots volunteer efforts.

 

[Crashy]

Fantastic news fibro. How are numbers looking across your junior clubs? How do you stop your best junior talent being picked off by the mungos?

 

[Fibrotown Insider]

Thanks for the observation Hugh Jarse - I believe the photo was taken at a relative's house somewhere in north-east-south Sydney where bricks aren't a luxury.

 

[Fibrotown Insider]

Thanks Crashy - numbers are good and growing. I'm not concerned about rugby league - there are thousands of kids out here - plenty to play all codes. Besides, if marketed right rugby offers a young bloke far more opportunity - only a handful of aspiring league players get to play in the NRL - with opportunities ceasing at SG Ball level if they don't go onto U20s. That means plenty of U18 year old aspirational rugby league players looking to take their professional football further - we will offer that opportunity. At present I fear more the Eastwoods, West Harbours & Parramatta's.

 

[Crashy]

Thanks fibro. The emus could have easily packed things up but sounds like things are really progressing. Who is the new club looking to form?

 

[Hugie]

Good news fibro,
In the Illawarra we're experiencing the same thing. At Shamrocks we've always said that anyone who turns up will get a game and their fair share of time. This year the local mungoes have "attitude" and a lot of boys are coming over just to get some game time, they will.

After all we men are simple animals, we only want 3 things:

1. hit some guy and drive him into the ground.
2. feel like we are wanted/loved as part of a team.
3. tell bullshit stories about how brave we are, and be believed

If you can provide that, they will come.

 

[Fibrotown Insider]

Hi Crashy - the club will be Penrith based - more details to come once we sure things up. Thanks for your donation last year - your contribution will not be forgotten.

 

[Fibrotown Insider]

Thanks for the recruitment advice Hughie.

 

[Zeno]

Good news fibro,
In the Illawarra we're experiencing the same thing. At Shamrocks we've always said that anyone who turns up will get a game and their fair share of time. This year the local mungoes have "attitude" and a lot of boys are coming over just to get some game time, they will.

After all we men are simple animals, we only want 3 things:

1. hit some guy and drive him into the ground.
2. feel like we are wanted/loved as part of a team.
3. tell bullshit stories about how brave we are, and be believed

If you can provide that, they will come.

Fine words, Hugie. I put them on the front page of the blog: http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/fridays-top-stories-2/

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Penrith District Junior Rugby will be fielding a full compliment of teams in this years NSW Junior State Championships including two under 10s teams. Our teams were published last Friday on the Juniors website. So far this year the juniors have hosted our Summer Junior Rugby Academy from November through to January, a three week rugby carnival - March Minis Madness and our representative trials over two huge weekends. At the invitation Penrith seniors we have also hosted the Waratahs for a junior muster as a prelude to the seniors season launch last Thursday evening.
We have been been re-engaging the community and so far we have 8 District sponsors & some very keen interest from a local organization to fund the commencement of a new junior club. We have a representative muster this Saturday at Nepean Rugby Park. On Friday the 26th April we have a golf day fund raiser for the juniors (we still have a number of holes available for sponsorship) and our representative presentation lunch hosted by one of our sponsors - Emu Sports Club at Leonay. We also have irons in the fire for 2014 corporate sponsorship. The harder we work - the luckier we become. All is looking great for the future of rugby in outer Western Sydney. It may take time - but it will happen.

With a fortnight to go to the NSW JRU State Champs, how are things shaping up for the Emus teams competing? Any Trials so far, tips ?

 

[No.8]

I have been following the Emus somewhat this year and seeing how they are travelling in the Shute Shield - its clear they are sturggling - but unlucky agasint Habour on the weekend!

Is there much support from the NSWRU/ARU to build this club and the surrounding player pool - or even have some Super Rugby players be appointed to the club for when they are finished their Super Rugby duites (if not selected for the Wallabies) - I am in no way connected to the club or no the ins and outs but from someone looking in I just cant see how they will drive themselves from the bottom of the Shute Shield ladder anytime/any year soon....

 

[Cattledog]

The Penrith Rep teams u10 - u17 (192 players) assembled on Friday night at our major sponsor Emu Club - Leonay for our 2013 Junior Rep presentation evening. On the night the players were presented with their shorts, socks, playing jumper, and polo shirt for the NSWJRU Championships by Club President Jeff Fox & the support from the Penrith seniors & NSWRU was outstanding. Injured Emerging Waratah Greg Peterson addressed the lads (given the Tahs were in NZ) and was credit to the Tahs & Manly club for making the trip from Freshwater to support the boys from the west.

The 2013 rep programme has been very much built upon the gains made in 2012. Early in 2013 the junior district secured EMU club (Leonay golf club), Ian cubbitt classic home improvements, securegaurd, TAG proactive marketing, Minuteman press, & Montecini smallgoods as district sponsors. The extra income has been put to great use and the plan is to finish the year with a substantial war chest. The Penrith DJRU golf day was another inovation for 2013 except for the fact it was won by John mullinger and his group of burglars from Hawkesbury Ag College RUFC .

Since the rep teams were named on good friday teams have been training weekly & trial matches in various ages have been played against SUFC, SOUTHERN DISTRICTS, EASTWOOD, ILLAWARRA and PARRAMATTA. Overall the general opinion is that the rep programme is having a direct benefit on the standard of village rugby and the players themselves. All ages are showing that they will not be pushovers and Penrith teams have won many of the trials.

In terms of the improvement being witnessed our u11's have lost 10 - 5 to Illawara, 36 - 26 to sufc, defeated southern districts 55 - 5 and had a 4 try all trial vs Eastwood in 2013. This team was beaten 60 - 5 by uni , 55 - 0 by souths, 60 - 0 by illawarra, and 25 - 10 by eastwood in 2012 so the gains are truly visible and parents are wrapt.

The U15's are another team to watch with a key factor being that both Hawkesbury & Raptors have moved from saturday comp to div A sunday comp thus having a good effect on player preparation. This team lost in the semis of the NSWJRU u14 CHAMPS in 2012 and are hoping to go further in 2013.

Rest assured the Penrith junior teams are ready to play in 2013.

 

[Knuckles]

I find it extraordinary that you boast about your junior rep programme when those in the know are aware you just poached Rooty Hill and Hawkesbury clubs from Parramatta and Blue Mountains were so disgusted with Penrith that they wanted to affiliate to West Harbour in 2012. Sydney Juniors blocked the move to Wests but disgracefully allowed the move of the other clubs. Lets keep things real here, the change of clubs didnt fix the problem, it just moved it away from Penrith Juniors.

 

[young gun]

I find it extraordinary that you boast about your junior rep programme when those in the know are aware you just poached Rooty Hill and Hawkesbury clubs from Parramatta and Blue Mountains were so disgusted with Penrith that they wanted to affiliate to West Harbour in 2012. Sydney Juniors blocked the move to Wests but disgracefully allowed the move of the other clubs. Lets keep things real here, the change of clubs didnt fix the problem, it just moved it away from Penrith Juniors.

How times change. In the 1970's I played u 15's and 16's in the Parramatta comp (from a merger with another comp) and the Parramatta teams were:

Northmead
Westmead
Wentworthville
Baulkham Hills
Merrylands
Dundas Valley (no fun those games!)

Whatever happened to them? They were all strong teams / clubs. Penrith didn't exist as a senior club / district, and Hawkesbury, Rooty Hill and Blue Mountains didn't exist as clubs (at least in Metropolition rugby).