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Erik Tweedale campaign: Two Blues taking on NRL, AFL in battle for talent in Sydney’s west

The Western Sydney Two Blues have high hopes a new campaign will revive rugby in west and lead to an influx of young talent back to the game.

The Western Sydney Two Blues are on a mission to revive rugby in the west.
The Western Sydney Two Blues are on a mission to revive rugby in the west.

The Western Sydney Two Blues are on a mission to stem the tide of talent leaving rugby for rival codes such as rugby league and AFL and to strengthen the game in Sydney’s west.

The western suburbs of Sydney now boasts two clubs in the Shute Shield with the Two Blues joined by the Penrith Emus this season.

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But Two Blues CEO Craig Watson said the game is leaking talent and this trend needs to be reversed with officials identifying, nurturing and developing young talent of the west.

The Two Blues want more players competing in rugby in the west.
The Two Blues want more players competing in rugby in the west.

“There are no development officers in NSW and our west participation is on the decline,” Watson said.

“So we are trying to fund our own form of rugby development and reinvigorate rugby out here.”

The Eric Tweedale campaign, named in honour of the oldest living Wallaby and endorsed by Two Blues club patron, is looking to raise money to fund development officers for the west.

This area roughly covers Campbelltown to Penrith and back to Parramatta.

The Two Blues want more players competing in rugby in the west.
The Two Blues want more players competing in rugby in the west.

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The Two Blues are based at Merrylands and will operate out of a new facility there due to be finished in May 2021.

“To stem the loss of rugby talent to other sports in the west and outside the region we need the game to be visible to kids and youth in the west,” Watson said.

“We desperately need someone to go into schools, nurturing the junior clubs.

“We need to give a bit more power back to the districts to take responsibility for their development.

“We want to arm the people on the ground to get into the communities.’’

More information about the campaign can be found here

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/sport/erik-tweedale-campaign-two-blues-taking-on-nrl-afl-in-battle-for-talent-in-sydneys-west/news-story/63480299c6b896382dd1788353d2b29c