Engaging with over 530 students on the regional trip development officers rolled out several different programs covering all basis of rugby including an introduction to rugby through RugbyRoos and touch sevens.
Matt Hodgson, Ex Wallaby and Force player also made the trip north to assist in the development, with a heavy focus on the regional area of Mullewa.
Hodgson also assisted with the promotion of a holidays RugbyRoos clinic, tapping into the local news sources in the area.
In preparation for the trip and throughout the local school visits the Mullewa local police were instrumental in assisting that the clinics ran smoothly.
The local officers in the area are a keystone in bringing together the local community and their involvement at the grassroots level in sports is helping to break down any barriers between the police and the local community.
While in Geraldton the development offices met with the Regional Manager for the department of local government, sport and cultural industries, Richard Malacari.
It was noted that he has noticed the growth of and interest in rugby in the region and has offered his assistance with any further opportunities to continue to grow the sport.
Dane Lazarus, regional development manager, stated.
“The growth of interest in the area has been outstanding, the feedback that we have got from not only the local rugby community, but also Richard (Malacari) from the Department of Local Government.”
“If it wasn’t for the department, we would not be able to get into contact with the right people and it would be virtually impossible to try and grow the game out in these regions.”
“We haven’t been just focussing on Geraldton in this region but in Mullewa and Yalgoo as well and we are also looking to expand as far as Meekatharra in the future.”
“Our team will continue to run our Get Into Rugby Schools and Try RugbyRoos programs here throughout the year, as well as hosting the RugbyRoos holiday clinic this upcoming school holidays and that should be massive for the region.”
“We’ve just received some much-needed support with this program and we will continue to grow the sport in the area, hopefully with the aim of getting some players to join the Geraldton Reef Sharks rugby team.”
“Finally, I’d like to thank Tom Gorman for his assistance in the area, he’s been heading around the local schools and promoting the programs in preparation for this trip so thankyou for that.”
Our development officers also went up with the intention on training of two new casual development officers for the region so they can assist with the growth of grassroots rugby from a local perspective.
With permanent development officers now in the region, RugbyRoos holiday clinics will now be held on Friday the 12th July, at the Geraldton Tiger Sharks RUC.
