In a sign of escalating growth for Rugby Union in Victoria, the VRU is pleased to report a 12% increase for junior registrations in 2013.

There are currently 2129 junior players registered with the VRU, compared to the 1908 players who were registered by the end of the 2012 season.

12 of the 18 clubs who compete in the junior division have experienced a rise in their player numbers, with Moorabbin recording the most significant boost in junior player numbers with an extra 85 juniors joining the club in 2013.

Moorabbin have the largest junior program, with 269 junior players, while Melbourne RUFC has the second largest program with 235 players currently registered with the club.

The additional registrations in 2013 are an indication of the continued development Rugby Union is currently experiencing in Victoria, with VRU president Tim North expressing his delight with the statistics.

“It’s absolutely fantastic to see this level of growth for Junior Rugby in Victoria. The number of players registering to compete in Union is a testament to the hard work of the VRU staff, as well as the incredible efforts put in by each of the junior clubs, whose programs have been outstanding.”

“Juniors are continuing to register each week, and we are hopeful for a 15% increase on 2012’s numbers by the end of the year.”

Melbourne Rebels CEO Rob Clarke has said that the continued increase in junior registrations is imperative to the future of Rugby Union in Victoria.

“These new junior numbers show that there is certainly a place for Rugby Union within the Victorian sporting landscape. We are aiming to ensure Rugby is one of the premier sports within Victoria, and it is vital to the future success of the Melbourne Rebels that we continue to grow from a grass roots level.”

Juniors can begin playing Rugby Union from as young as the age of five as a part of the VRU’s Pathway Program, which is a series of non-competitive matches for U6s to U9s, where the focus is simply for juniors to learn new skills and enjoy being part of a team environment.

The VRU’s Junior Program extends up to U18s, with new players still able to register for the final three rounds ahead of finals.

Originally posted at http://vicrugby.com.au/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=NewsItem&NewsID=37857