NELSON Bay Junior Rugby Club has opened the 2025 season with sterling achievements both on and off the field.
With over 160 registered players across eight teams ranging from seven-year-old juniors to 18, the Gropers have started their campaigns with encouraging victories and spirited performances.
In a testament of the club’s thriving Junior Development program, 17 emerging Nelson Bay prospects have gained selection in this year’s Hunter Wildfires junior rugby representative squads.
Top juniors Cleo Karapa, Havana Borg and Mia Powell (Under 12s); Annabelle Brown, Jada Stanley, Mayli Campbell and Zoe Smith (Under 15s for Wildfires Under 16s) and Chiara Gamgee and Luca Stewart (Under 17s for Wildfires Under 18s) were named in the Wildfires Girls squads.
Logan Jarvis (Under 13s), Baelin Scully and Kade Lawson (Under 14s), Flynn Squires, Josh Perry and Zeke Hay as well as talented playmakers Bastiaan Osbourne-Zorbas and Darcy Lawson, have forced their way into the Boys representative line-ups.
Nelson Bay Junior Rugby Club secretary Matt Findlay told News Of The Area that the Gropers will supply five referees to this year’s Hunter junior competitions.
“We have a number of junior referees that will take to the whistle this season and we encourage anyone that is keen to participate to join the ranks,” he said.
The Gropers Under 14s Boys outfit have produced impressive victories in the early rounds and are one of the clubs to beat for this year’s title.
A number of team members were praised recently for their brave efforts and surf skills in a courageous rescue at Zenith Beach.
The Nelson Bay club was quick to arrange team counselling and in support of parents to ensure the trauma of the event was managed well for the long term benefit of all boys involved.
Last Friday, the Gropers hosted their annual Club Day event for Under 15 Girls and were joined by teams from Singleton and Wanderers.
Four Singleton Under 15 players – Matthew Green, Caden Foster, Will Enright and Hunter Wildfires rep Flynn Squires – travel two hours each Thursday for training at the club’s Nelson Bay base.
“This is owed to the club’s strength in attracting players from outside the region and also these fine young men [and their parents] committing to Nelson Bay.”
A long time tradition has been rekindled with the club’s end-of-season Under 18s tour of Vanuatu planned at the conclusion of this year’s Sevens series.
The touring Gropers team will play several goodwill fixtures and also assist where requested to aid recovery from recent disasters.
“This will come with a variety of clothing, schooling and sporting donations and simply strengthening our ties with our good Vanuatu friends,” Findlay added.
By Chris KARAS
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