New Rugby Kings Gold Coast club yet to be given approval to play by the sport’s governing union
A former international who has started a new Gold Coast club is sweating on approval from the city’s governing body so nearly 100 juniors signed can play. WHAT DO YOU THINK? VOTE NOW.
Local Rugby
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A FORMER Wallaby who has started a new Gold Coast rugby club is sweating on approval from the city’s governing union so nearly 100 juniors signed can play.
Ex Queensland Red and Melbourne Rebels star Richard Kingi has founded Rugby Kings Gold Coast in the city’s north where he is trying to grow the game.
The ex-Wallaby has 79 players already signed to play in teams ranging from under-13s to under-16s, multiple women’s sevens teams, a committee and a year-long contract in place to play out of Pimpama State Secondary College with two fields and access to toilet facilities and showers.
The club also has letters of support from various levels of government, including Division 1 Councillor Mark Hammel, Coomera LNP MP Michael Crandon and Fadden MP Stuart Robert.
The only thing they don’t have is approval from the Gold Coast District Rugby Union who have not told Rugby Kings if they will be able to play.
“We believe we have ticked all the boxes to be allowed to play,” Kingi said.
“We have had our first annual general meeting, appointed the necessary people for the committee and we just need to be signed off from the District.
“The only issue we have had is before Christmas we didn’t have a club to play out of. The District wanted us to tick the boxes and we have now done that.”
Kingi holds fears that the current players who have joined the club will be the victims of a political clash between city clubs and the governing body following his decision to leave Griffith Colleges Knights. At the Knights he spent time as head coach of its senior side, to start the new venture.
Kingi and the Kings committee members, who have defected from various clubs on the Gold Coast, feel junior players aren’t being properly developed.
Kingi said: “The foundation of any club is its juniors. I have formed this club with people from different places and we have all come to the same conclusion, that some aren’t following the constitution of their clubs, the things that are there to make sure everything is done properly.
“We are doing it for the right reasons, for the kids’ development. We are the best people to do it. We know what we are talking about and can get the best out of the kids. For us it isn’t just about developing them on the field. We want to develop them away from the field too through things like apprenticeships, coaching degrees and referee certificates.”
Kingi hopes the creation of Kings will result in a junior development program he believes is right.
“There is always going to be disappointment from somewhere and people who aren’t happy,” Kingi said.
“That is just the way it is. In the world of rugby people are always out there to either put someone down and at the end of the day it is a reflection on themselves.
“They have their own issues they have to deal with. We are doing something good for the community.
“Most of the players have never even played rugby before. Pimpama is one of the fastest growing areas in Queensland and that is why we chose it. The closest club is in Coomera and we are further away from them than many clubs are to each other.
Gold Coast District Rugby Union chairman Rod Thompson declined to comment on the matter.
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