New reserve-grade and women’s competitions slated for Mackay Rugby Union in 2024
New-look men’s and women’s competitions are in the works for Mackay Rugby Union’s 2024 season. Discover all the details, and the array of potential benefits for Mackay rugby.
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Picture a beautiful winter day at your local sporting field.
The A-grade women kick off the day’s matches at midday, followed by men’s reserve and senior games.
The action wraps up about 5.30pm and the club is buzzing long into the night.
While the likes of Aussie rules and rugby league in Mackay have grown accustomed to such days, they have long been a dream of Mackay Rugby Union.
But MRU president Sam Miller hopes this can become the league’s reality, with plans in place for the launch of men’s reserve-grade and women’s A-grade competitions in 2024.
He believes the new-look reserves competition - which has been absent from the Mackay Rugby League calendar for 12 years - will field four to five teams in its initial season.
Of the seven MRU clubs, it is understood the most likely to figure in 2024 are Bowen, Proserpine-Whitsunday, Moranbah, Slade Point, and Brothers.
“There’s a few reasons that we look to bring this in,” said Miller.
“Number one is there’s been a massive increase in people wanting to play rugby.
“We’ve seen a greater influx of people and interest and we thought having a reserve-grade would be a great way to ensure that everyone out there can get a run.”
He also cited the significant jump young players are forced to make under the present model, with no competition between U16s and seniors for budding juniors, causing many to be lost to the code.
“This was a big plan for us to create a grade where (juniors) can feel comfortable to get familiar with senior rugby and gain some experience, and make the transition between juniors and seniors easier,” said Miller.
“The big fault from us has been not having an avenue for them to transition across, we feel this is the time now to try and capitalise on that, and make the juniors where our depth comes from.
“At the moment our depth is coming from … trying to chase people and find people from out of town.”
Along with engaging junior players and easing them into senior rugby, Miller also said a reserve-grade could entice former players, who wouldn’t have to take it as seriously, back to the sport.
“It’s also a chance for league players, AFL players, soccer players to come and have a crack at it,” he said.
“A few people will still probably have to back up between reserve grade and a-grade, it won’t be two fully fledged sides at the moment, but some teams will be pretty close.”
Mackay Rugby Union will hold a meeting at the end of the month to confirm the reserve competition’s specific details.
Adding to the excitement, a new-look A-grade women’s competition is also on the cards for 2024.
Miller said the new women’s competition would be about “showing respect” to players, instead of the inconsistency dependent on numbers in years gone by.
“If these girls want to put their time into playing rugby then we want to make sure they have a competition to play,” he said.
A three-team competition is on the cards for this season, which is set to consist of Bowen, Proserpine-Whitsunday and a Mackay-based club.
It’s hoped that will provide a foundation that can be built upon in years to come.
“We just really want to get as many teams as we can,” Miller said.
“If all things run well you would have the women at 12pm, the reserves at 1.30, and the men’s A-grade at 3.30.
“It just creates people around the club, it creates money, atmosphere, feel, all that sort of stuff, people are just there.
“Clubs just become a bit stronger, you get more resources, you get more parents, you get more people helping out, you get more partners, it just all sort of grows.”
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Originally published as New reserve-grade and women’s competitions slated for Mackay Rugby Union in 2024
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