Rugby league in Macarthur has received its biggest boost since the relocation of Western Suburbs Magpies to Campbelltown in 1987.
Wests Group Macarthur have announced a $330,000 grant as part of a partnership agreement to support football in the region.
It comes on the eve of a new season that will showcase new streamlined competitions for both seniors and juniors.
Both will be run by NSW Rugby League, and include pathways linked to Wests Tigers NRL.
The Wests Group Macarthur funding will support 23 clubs from Campbelltown to Wingecarribee.
That’s a whopping 447 teams and more than 7,000 players who will be participating in the Wests Tigers Macarthur Junior Rugby League and Group 6 Rugby League competitions.
The $330,000 grant is the biggest single financial sponsorship by sporting code in the history of Wests Group Macarthur.
NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler and NSW Rugby League CEO David Trodden both attended the cheque presentation last Friday at Wests Leumeah.
“Wests Group Macarthur have been on the journey with us for many years with their generous support to our community and I believe the new combined Macarthur conference is the best step for all stakeholders,’’ says newly appointed chairman of the Wests Tigers JRL board Daniel Draper.
“The new competition structure we are offering in 2022 is the most exciting and positive thing to happen in rugby league in our area in a long time.’’
The Wests Group funding will be used toward encouraging local sport and positive rugby league pathways including player development programs, insurances, gala days, fees, uniforms, marketing and promotion, and volunteer development.
Chairman of Group 6 Junior Rugby League, Mark Dooner, says the massive support from Wests Group means there are exciting times ahead for rugby league in the Macarthur region.
“The Macarthur Conference competition will allow more efficient competitions for players of varying ability, which will provide better opportunity for recruitment and retention of current players,’’ says Mr Dooner.
“The partnership with Wests Group Macarthur will play a huge role in providing a successful Conference competition in the Macarthur region.”
NSW Rugby League CEO David Trodden expressed his gratitude to Wests Group Macarthur for their support of the game and their community.
“I want to thank chairman Alan Buxton and his board and chief executive officer Daniel Perkiss for having the confidence to back our game in such a fantastic way,’’ he said.
“This is an exciting partnership for rugby league in the South West and it will help cement our commitment to past, present, and future players of the game in the region,” Trodden said.
“The Macarthur and Group 6 region is one of the fastest-growing areas for participation in NSW and this deal will solidify the pathways for players looking to pursue a professional rugby league career.”
At the heart of Western Suburbs League Club, the flagship venue in the Wests Group portfolio, is a historic connection with rugby league and the Group 6 Rugby League competition – with the club originally built to support Campbelltown’s oldest rugby league team, the Campbelltown City Kangaroos with origins back to 1908.
“Wests is thrilled to partner with NSWRL in a deal that strongly reconnects and reignites Wests Group’s long-running and historical association to the rugby league community in Macarthur,’’ said Mr Buxton at Friday’s announcement.
