SDRC COLTS & Waratahs ACADEMY UPDATE
Colts Update
As 2022 draws to a close, full attention is now being focused on how to create a premiership winning Colts program for 2023. With the pre-season knocking, and with the anticipation of season 2023 there is a genuine hunger and excitement that surrounds Forshaw. Colts Head Coach George Gargoulakis has been burning the candle at both ends preparing for what looks to be a bigger and better 2023 both on and off the field. George is busy within the Rugby community currently doing Assistant Coaching the Waratahs Gen Blues U16s, if you get a chance to watch this group of players take the opportunity to sit back and enjoy some real rugby talent and NSW Rugby is fast approaching a golden period of quality rugby.
The Colts program kicked off with an information night on October 6th when we held the first Colts information night of the 2022/2023 season which was a rousing success with over 40 players in Attendance and 12 watching through Zoom. George and Liam Dwyer put forward their vision for 2023 and crucial dates with out of season training starting in a couple of weeks with a 7-week block leading up to Xmas with a trial pencilled in against Eastwood in the early weeks of December.
Waratah Academy
Furthermore, there is one other rather large announcement which is the Launch of the NSW Waratahs Southern Districts Academy Tier 1 program. This Academy program is a joint venture between NSW Waratahs and Southern Districts. This exciting new satellite opportunity paves a pathway opportunity for our current Colts’ athletes to coincidingly train and develop as part of the Gen Blue Program banner and to be expose to Academy staff, standards, behaviours, and expectations. The 30 players invited to train as part of this opportunity will train 2 times per week on top of the 3-day pre – season block where players will be involved in what can only be described as high-performance environment that enables players to grow both themselves both on and off – field. The NSW Waratahs and Southern Districts Academy will be run by Head Coach of Colts George Gargoulakis and assisted by fellow Colts Coaches and Strength and Conditioning staff.
The NSW Waratahs and Southern Districts Rugby Academy is fantastic opportunity to grow and brand our Rugby community in the Southern & Illawarra corridors. This initiative has provided us with a great opportunity to retain and promote the Rugby pathway. The Academy initiative has been well supported by the Southern Districts Board and the NSW Waratahs Youth Academy.
Academy Sponsorship Update:
With the recent news of the exciting joint venture between the NSW Waratahs and Southern Districts Rugby we are thrilled to announce that Sinclair’s Accommodation Group have come on board as a major sponsor of the Academy Program. We at Southern Districts are thrilled to have this family run hospitality group based in Ulladulla and Lake Conjola for their support. Special mention must be made to Lindsay and Ulla Tytherleigh who have been momentous supporters of Colts program in 2022. We are thrilled to have the continued support of Lindsay and Ulla in 2023 and beyond. Anyone looking for a nice stay in the Ulladulla area or a rural retreat in the lush area around Lake Conjola make sure you contact Lindsay or Ulla and let them know you are part of the Southern Districts faithful and you will be well looked after and Lindsay is always keen for a rugby chat!
Visit: www.sinclairs.com.au
Finally, we turn our attention to 2023. With a large contingent of our 2022 Colts group returning and having put their hand up for a hard and long pre – season, we look to continue developing the behaviours and standards achieved in 2023 which will lay the way for future success in 2023 and beyond.
Keith Holmes
Colts Director 2023
