Students in the Community | SUFC Junior Program

Over the last 6 months SUFC and our junior program have reached out to hundreds of kids within the rugby community through our coaching clinics, try rugby days, training camps, holiday programs, school trainings and now our Junior State champs held all over NSW on the June long weekend.

It has been a great achievement, not only to see participation increase, but to see our connection grow within our rugby community. In saying this, I would like to thank on behalf of SUFC, all our players and volunteers that have made this so successful.

At SUFC we are very lucky to have so many people willing to give back to their club. I would like to make special mention of a few extraordinary efforts. Sepesa Loga–Tarogi will soon be the most well-known man around the inner west.  On his journey back from injury “Pes” has volunteered so many hours in developing the growth of the game, and now back playing still continues to find the time coaching our Petersham Primary School venture every Friday. Endlessly giving energy, and with his infectious smile he is bringing love to the game to all he reaches. Once he finishes his bachelor of education, humanities and social sciences, he will be an asset to any school program.

Both Ciaran Loh (studying a double in civil engineering/commerce majoring in finance), and Jay Spencer (studying construction management also working part time), not only have given their time to the Colts program, but have been heavily involved with our coaching clinics as well, in the lead up to the recent State Championships. Both Students are now thankfully making their return to the pitch and personally, I can’t wait to see them back in action.

“I wanted to pass on our collective appreciation for the training sessions that were coordinated with the Sydney Uni Seniors and Colts. Both sessions were excellent and the scrummaging session last night was one of the best I have seen. The difference in the techniques of all boys individually and as a unit from the start of the session to the finish was huge.” – SCOTT BOYLE U13s Manager.

Claudia Bell (Sports management and exercise science) and Brit Merlo (Associate degree in applied science) have both been immense in assisting the junior female game. Coaching our U18s girls to a State Championship title, as well as putting their hands up for involvement to all our clinics, try rugby days, and new projects such as the iner varsity 7s program, and the newly formed ‘Home of Women’s Rugby’, the Club can’t thank you enough.

The Juniors program is growing rapidly, and I also need to thank Adam Dunn our Juniors President as well as our Village Club Presidents, John Kilkenny (Petersham), Paul Timbrell (Balmain) and Matt Bowerman (Canterbury), for all of their assistance in driving this forward. With these men behind the wheel, I am genuinely exiting for the road ahead.

Lastly, to everyone who has put up their hand a sincere thank you.