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On June 13, Penrith Rugby Union Club hosted a double header of matches involving the four main teams across that region: Penrith versus Parramatta and Eastwood versus West Harbour.
This set of matches was seen as a vital promotional tool for rugby union in the region, attracting a good crowd for two highly competitive matches.
To the casual onlooker, it would suggest that rugby union is building a name and support base for itself as it starts the war against the other football codes for the lucrative Western Sydney market.
However, look beyond the flashy success of that Friday night and you are presented with a far different picture of the code in the region.
A clear indication of the future of senior rugby union clubs across Sydney is the state of their junior system and, more to the point, Colts grade, not just in terms of performance, but also the numbers they attract.
Within the last few weeks, Penrith Rugby Union Club withdrew its last Colts team from the competition after starting out with teams in each of the three grades less than six months ago.
But who can blame them?
The first grade team alone has conceded on average over 100 points per match, whilst scoring the odd try. Apart from the dwindling player numbers, the club made a move to protect the players from serious injury as a result of the continual beatings by withdrawing them.
For many years now, Penrith has required support from NSW Rugby in its promotion of the game in the area and between them over the past ten years they have done a good job organising competitions in the high schools to build the game.
This support from NSW Rugby has decreased significantly over the past few years as the “power clubs” of the competition have surged ahead, until now, where we have heard little acknowledgment from them on this issue.
Really, there is little reason for this course of events to have taken place.
The footballing talent is there. Look at Penrith rugby league, with two 17 year-olds on having made their debuts recently.
The talent exists, it just looks like little has been done to attract talented youngsters from league and other codes, except those below the top tier, which the league clubs snap up very quickly.
Something desperately needs to be done to save the code in Western Sydney.
In this battle of the codes, rugby union cannot afford to be missing out on precious talent available.
A prime example of this is Kurtley Beale, who came from Mount Druitt league not much more than five years ago to where he is today.
If we can’t keep producing these kids, were are going to struggle to survive.
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Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.