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Growing the grassroots in WA with the help of Nicola and Andrew Forrest
Western Force Cup to change WA rugby landscape:
The Western Force Cup aims to be the premier school-aged rugby competition in the country.
The Western Australian school competition, formerly known as the Rugby Schools Cup, has today been relaunched as the Western Force Cup.
Made possible through the generous support of Dr Andrew Forrest AO and Nicola Forrest AO, the Western Force Cup will see 18 schools from across the Perth metropolitan area compete for the 2022 title.
The competition will take place over an eight-week period between July and September 2022, with Grand Final Day on September 21. Teams will be based across three hubs, including a North, Central and South Zone, with six schools per zone.
Dr Forrest, the Chairman of the Western Force, said the competition would showcase emerging WA talent, increase the accessibility of rugby union and create pathways for boys and girls who wanted to play rugby.
“The change in name reflects the growing prominence of the Western Force. Right throughout the Western Australian community we are building something truly special, and we’re building it from the ground up,” Dr Forrest said.
“Last year, we provided $5 million to create an elite pathways program. This is on top of the $2 million we had already committed to women’s and children’s rugby in WA.
“A thriving rugby community requires a rock-solid foundation, that’s why we’re investing in the grassroots. The boys and girls playing in the Western Force Cup are the lifeblood of our sport in this State and our future champions.”
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Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Hope they are not going to schools south of river……
Weird statement from someone who has their location set as Cockburn
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
...speaking of grassroots, a sauce informed me recently that Shakey has been, um, relieved of his duties and is no longer at RWA.
Say it ain't so, Joe
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
More exciting news in the West as Nicola and Andrew Forrest set about growing the game in the West
How blessed are we to have Nicola and Andrew Forrest supporting the game we all love
Introducing the Western Force Cup
Nicola and Andrew Forrest announcing the cup
Watch here
WA rugby makes big push into schools with the launch of the Western Force Cup
From The West:
The junior sporting landscape is set to change with WA Rugby making a big push into schools with the launch of the Western Force Cup.
They tested the appetite for the game this year with the Rugby Schools Cup that attracted nine sides with Aranmore College winning both the boys and girls tournaments.
But next year the newly-named competition has doubled to 18 schools as part of $5 million grassroots-to-eilte pathway funding from mining magnate Andrew Forrest.
Forrest, who saved the Force four years ago after they were controversially axed by Rugby Australia, said the competition would showcase emerging talent, increase the accessibility of rugby and create pathways for boys and girls.
“The change in name reflects the growing prominence of the Western Force,” Forrest said.
“We are building something truly special, and we’re building it from the ground up.
“A thriving rugby community requires a rock-solid foundation, that’s why we’re investing in the grassroots.
“The boys and girls playing in the Western Force Cup are the lifeblood of our sport and our future champions.”
Force chief executive Tony Lewis said: “We are using the branding to reinforce that if you have an ambition, want to follow a professional career, it is inextricably linked to rugby within the state.”
RugbyWA chief executive and former Force and Wallabies hooker Nathan Charles said the tournament was integral to the sustainability of WA rugby.
“The success we had in year one shows what we can do in three, four, five years time.....a competition that’s here for the long term,” Charles said.
Former Wallaby and Force captain Matt Hodgson, now Force rugby manager, said: “We are going to schools that have never picked up the ball.
“This is a unique opportunity, something I wish I’d had at school, a clear pathway going into a representative team.
“Give it four or five years and you will see players graduate from the Western Force Cup into the Western Force team.”
The competition will be played by 13-14 year-olds who will progress into higher age groups.
It will be played on Wednesday’s July to September to allow youngsters to play for their local clubs at weekends, which PSA players are not allowed to do.
Last edited by Tazzmania; 10-12-21 at 08:43.
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Twiggy chasing a tax break in addition to zero tax he already pays - lucky for us Rugby is the beneficiary.
Great news. Look forward to see this comp double in size and more age groups each year.
The PSA 13-14 year old boys (and younger) also play during the week days and are free to play club rugby on the weekend, as many do.
It is only in years 11-12 or about 16-18 years old, that PSA rugby is played on Saturday along with their AFL, soccer etc. Great traditional inter PSA school sports rivalry, which rugby is part off.
RugbyWA is apparently chosing to remove 4 clubs south of river from the Premier Grade Competition. Over 1/3 of the junior numbers play for these clubs. The schools cup will generate interest but there will be no clubs for the kids to play for. The way the clubs are being treated is disgusting.
Well, fair point then, if it eventuates. But you'd need to be a Vulcan to decipher that from the OP.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David