NELSON Bay Rugby Club will invest in a proven youth policy in its quest for championship honours in the 2025 Hunter Suburban Men’s Rugby competition.
The Gropers will parade an exciting batch of promising colts for this year’s first grade campaign under the guidance of new coach Zion Takarua.
Still reeling from their shock 12-7 loss to Cooks Hill in last year’s preliminary final, the Nelson Bay club has vowed to make amends and regain the President’s Trophy.
The Gropers will field the core of the undefeated 2023 squad that won the premiership, along with an emerging crop of local products from the championship-winning Under 18 sides that captured back-to-back titles in 2023-24.
New recruits include talented fullback Will Clark and flanker Oliver Edwards, who return to the club after stints in the Newcastle Wildfires Colts system.
Both progressed through the Nelson Bay Junior Rugby development pool to cut their teeth in Premier Rugby in 2022.
Clark is a former Australian Under 18 Schoolboys and NSW Barbarians representative who featured at the Sydney Junior, Under 18 Country and NSW State championships.
An elusive and versatile athlete, Will is equally adept as a fullback, winger or centre and is a capable goal kicker.
He is a former state sprinter who will add plenty of thrust and speed to the Gropers’ much vaunted backline this season.
The rugged Edwards is a dynamic flanker and hooker who performed strongly at the 2022 Sydney Junior Rugby, Under 18 Country and NSW State Championships.
He gained valuable experience with the Wildfires’ Colts teams and was eager to return home to Nelson Bay for the 2025 Hunter Suburban Rugby campaign.
Two other major gains are promising prop forward Jacob Affleck and his uncle Jarrod Zuvela.
Young gun Affleck was a key figure in the Gropers’ premiership-winning Under 18 teams these past two seasons and represented Hunter at the Under 18 Country and Sydney Junior Championships in 2022.
A dedicated forward, Jacob is relishing the opportunity to learn the art of front row scrummaging under the Gropers’ master prop and new coach Takarua.
Tireless forward Zuvela has made his way to the Groperdome via the Central Coast and Central West Rugby.
A teak-tough lock and flanker, Jarrod represented the Kariong Wanderers in Premier 1 and 2 competitions and Presidents Cup, before linking with the Bathurst Bulldogs.
He was blooded in the 2021 New Holland Cup before playing a key role in the Bulldogs – winning the Central West Rugby Blowes Cup first grade premiership.
Other local Nelson Bay juniors to join the Gropers squad for 2025 are versatile lock and flanker Jobe Hirschausen, prop Eddie De Vos, utility back Brayden McMaster, tough flanker-hooker Hayden Wilson and flanker-centre Kurt Peters.
With the return of crafty halfback Kade Redmond, hooker Harry Porter, tough Number 8 Rhys York, dynamic flyhalf/centre Cody Ross, versatile lock Mitch Affleck and lock Matthew Christenson, Nelson Bay Rugby is building a powerful squad to challenge for the Hunter Rugby Divisional premiership.
Meanwhile, Nelson Bay Women’s squad is looking for new players for the 2025 season.
Training is on Mondays at Tomaree Sports Complex number one ground at 5.45pm and Wednesdays at Bill Strong Oval from 5.45pm.
By Chris KARAS
