**Macarthur region’s junior rugby league numbers continue to fall**
Tarik Elmerhebe, Macarthur Chronicle Campbelltown
March 8, 2017 4:52pm
THE Macarthur region was once rugby league heartland but with dwindling numbers in junior participation over the years, many feel those days are gone.
An audit conducted by NSW Rugby League (NSWRL) last year found the Western Suburbs District Junior Rugby League (WSDJRL) competition needed to combine with the Canterbury-Bankstown District Junior Rugby Football League to survive after plummeting registrations.
From this season onwards, the first division teams in the under-13s to 17s leagues will compete in the merged competition.
In 2015, the Macarthur Chronicle reported registrations had fallen by 267 players.
One local parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said several children were moving to other sporting codes from rugby league, highlighting player transfer issues as one of the main reasons.
“Is the competition in such a strong position that we can afford to lose these kids to either other districts or to other codes?” they said.
“I don’t think the league is in a position to lose more kids.”
WSDJRL chief executive Julie Luke admitted there was an issue.
“Yes, the participation numbers have declined over the past number of years,” she said.
“It should also be noted that rugby league participation numbers across the board have declined over the past two years, which is in line with a decline nationally in all organised sport, in particular with the teenage demographic.”
But she said the WSDJRL, affiliated clubs, Wests Magpies, Wests Tigers and the NSWRL were all working together to increase participation numbers.
Rugby league junior numbers have continued to decline in the region. Picture: Troy Snook
“Yes, it is concerning, which is why, to this, junior league reacted with a request to the NSWRL to conduct an audit and health check within our district last season to try to identify the decline,” she said.
“This audit was conducted by the NSWRL with participation from clubs, officials and parents.
“NSWRL has been actively working with WSDJRL over the past 18 months to identify possible solutions.
“We are currently working in conjunction with the NSWRL to promote via our affiliated clubs the NSWRL Recreational Pre Season Program. We also have a close working relationship with the NRL Game Development Office whose role is to promote our game throughout the school communities.”
At a Campbelltown Chamber of Commerce meeting recently, Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe said junior rugby league had a number of challenges it was facing when trying to increase numbers.
“I think the threats are outside competition first and foremost. You see soccer obviously continuing to evolve and develop … I think the AFL and the investment they’re making into not only infrastructure but also through schools also,” he said.
But with the NRL adopting a State Cup model for lower-tier rugby league from 2018, Mr Pascoe said he believed that would help encourage more young players.
“The pathway that I’ve seen that the NRL is developing in regards to the state league I think will address some of those issues and hopefully bring participation and growth back.”
Also at that meeting, Tigers fan engagement and community manager Shaun Spence said the encouragement of volunteers in junior leagues was something that was often overlooked and needed to be addressed.
“With junior football it’s great to try to attract juniors to the sport but if the volunteers aren’t there to run the clubs and run the leagues themselves, the teams fall over completely,” he said.
“I think that’s a big role that we can play in terms of recognising the current volunteers and also encouraging the ones we do have.”
**Comments**
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Avatar for Mark
Mark
Apr 30, 2017
Now I know why NRL juniors are not getting enough time on the field my son is 6 year old playing under Sevens in roll with Ingleburn RSL I have done my registration for him and signed off on his card but he has been sitting on the bench for the last two games because no one will sign off on his card to play and no one can give me a reason why it makes me very angry as a parent because it is his first year in NRL why is it that I did the same as every other parent yet the kids are playing and my son is not the club tells me that West won't sign off on his card and that he has been transferred from another club which is b******* because it is his first time this is why kids play other sports I will love my son to play NRL under Sevens but no one can tell me what can I do to get him to play is a joke you think you pay up registration and sightings that's your son can play but it's not the case disappointed and upset West and Ingleburn RSL.
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Avatar for carl
carl
May 6, 2017
100% agree with you. West leagues are an absolute basket case of an organisation it seems that rather be caught up in paperwork then actually helping kids get on the field every week. And the problem is you can't criticizing or they take all their balls and go home. The NRL really needs to look at Wests Leagues as an organisation. They can't even get the day of the games right you don't even find out who your playing until 3 days before the game. and it is really a reflection of how the organisation is run from the top to the bottom. Other junior Leagues in Sydney are run so much better. Our kids schools have already had a visit from the GWS Giants this year. They have never seen anybody from the West Tigers since they been at school.
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Avatar for Sonia
Sonia
Mar 11, 2017
This is an assaulte joke, NSWRL are full of crap and are hiding behind stupid rules where they will not let kids inside the district transfer to a 1st division side that has made it to a grand final....
our team lost 5 kids to other sports or injury this year and NSWRL keep denying transfers to our team (even if the kids moved to the area or wants to play back in his own age instead of playing up a age) how are we meant to move to this new Canterbury competition as a 1st division side when we can't get anymore players.
Seem like Julie Luke and NSWRL don't mind that we might need to fold our side as we can not field enough players due to the ridiculous rules that are being held strong with no duty of care or consideration to the situation.
How do you tell a team of 11 players that they might not be able to play the game they love due to the big wigs trying to build the comp back to what it was but forgetting about the kids that are wanting to stay.
I could go on and on but as one of those volenteers for the last almost 10 years the thought as crossed my mind to get up and leave the game to but I could not do that to the kids we have thought over those 10 years.
Julie Luke and NSWRL need to take a look at themselves and go back to the drawing board and rethink what is pushing the kids and their family's away.
IT IS YOU!!!!!!
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Avatar for Brad
Brad
Mar 9, 2017
Participation rates falling again even though they include touch football and Oztag numbers!! Gee Rugby League is really kicking goals. No wonder they keep bringing back trouble makers to play in the NRL. They dont have a choice.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/macarthur/macarthur-regions-junior-rugby-league-numbers-continue-to-fall/news-story/10981dd31ed7ad0df6a3319acc002768
Some of the comments are interesting.
