The 2017 Blowes Clothing Cup it set for a substantial shake-up, with a two-tier senior competition to be proposed at this year’s Central West Rugby Union annual general meeting.
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CWRU chief executive officer Peter Veenstra confirmed the proposed two-tier competition has been mooted ahead of the November 20 meeting, a change that will see at most 10 teams contest the top grade with as many as another six to contest the second tier.
Eleven teams contested last season’s top flight competition, but Veenstra said Narromine has indicated it won’t be able to meet the requirements of the top tier Blowes Clothing Cup competition in 2017, which, if the changes are agreed to, will included first grade, second grade and a colts premiership.
Third grade will once again be optional.
What we’re proposing is those sides with enough players for two teams contest a second tier.
- CWRU chief executive officer Peter Veenstra
The second tier will then be a two-team competition, with CWRU officials hoping the likes of Narromine and, possibly, Dubbo Rhinos, a side that battled to field senior sides in 2016, will be joined by larger GrainCorp Cup clubs like Molong and Blayney.
Veenstra said a proposed two-tier Blowes Clothing Cup has been in the works, but dispelled rumours defending first grade premiers Orange Emus would be in the second tier if the club didn’t have colts.
Orange Emus vice president and first grade captain Nigel Staniforth moved to back up that sentiment.
“We would have had a colts last season but for the late change to the age group in February,” Staniforth said.
“We had 26 colts in under 20s, but the move to (under) 19s made 18 of them ineligible.
“We’re obviously aware of our struggles and we’re working to rectify the issue.”
Staniforth said the club was working with its junior base in a bid to rectify the void at a colts level.
Veenstra said the CWRU would do what it cans to help all clubs wanting to field a colts team.
“We know there’s some sides that have struggled with colts in the past, and we’ll continue to do everything we can to help facilitate those sides’ bid for a colts,” Veenstra said.
Veenstra said the second tier would adopt a similar model to the one run in Western Plains.
“What we’re proposing is those sides with enough players for two teams contest a second tier,” he added.
“It’s a little different, but first grade would play first, say at 2pm, then those that don’t take the field play in a lower grade game.
“Whether that’s in a 10s or 15s format is up to the clubs, but the idea is to get more people participating in rugby.”
Nick McGrath
Editor, Central Western Daily
Editor, Central Western Daily
