The extension of the NSW lockdown to September 10 may have brought an abrupt end to the Hunter Junior Rugby Union season but the Nelson Bay Gropers are looking at the positives from the 2021 season.
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Nelson Bay Junior Rugby Union Club's under-15s were announced as the undefeated premiers for 2021 when HJRU declared on August 26, the day the lockdown was extended, that the winter season was "now complete" and no further games would be played including finals. The team played 14 of 16 rounds.
Gropers secretary Kellie Vincent said the club would recognise its teams, and everyone else involved in making the season happen, with an end of season presentation when it was possible.
"End of season awards are going ahead," she said. "Hopefully we are able to have a small gathering in the future to present them [awards]."
Other highlights of the 2021 season for the junior rugby union club included hosting the Under-12, 13 and 14 NSW County Championships at Salamander in May.
Former Wallaby David Campese ran a coaching clinic for Bay players in July, and presented some Gropers with their Hunter Wildfires jumpers after they were selected.
The Gropers had one of its largest ever contingent selected into representative teams this season. Twenty-four players represented the Hunter Wildfires at Country and State Championships of which nine went on to further honours through either the weekend or schools rugby pathways.
Selected for NSW Country was Jacob Affleck (under-14), Corey McDougall, Ian Beale, Darcy Brown and Oscar Affleck (under-15). A final team was not selected due to COVID-19. Kai Vincent was selected in the under-18 NSW Country Barbarians team but did not get to tour the ACT and Victoria as planned. As a 17 year old, he can trial again next year.
In the schools pathway selections, Jed Smith (CHS) and Lucas Bakker (AICES) were selected in under-16 squads.
The club also fielded its first 10-a-side under-13 girls team who came second in their competition and recruited an under-8 side.
"The future is looking bright for Nelson Bay Gropers with many former juniors now making up at least half of senior teams," Vincent said.
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