Well last night saw the kickoff to the 2017 season with Bathurst Bulldogs up against crosstown rivals CSU.

Much talk in the lead up to this opening clash was about the controversial decision by Central West Rugby’s decision not to increase the age of coats to u/ 20s which resulted in CSU regrettably forfeiting the colts game.

I believe it goes to saying a lot about the state of rugby in Australia at this point in time when a club who has had colts playing in the last three (3) grand finals can no longer field a side.

Surely the powers that be must realise that with participation numbers in rugby in Australia falling from 148,000 in 2001 to just 55,000 in 2017 (a 62% reduction in participation) something is amiss in rugby in Australia.

This current level of participation in rugby in Australia makes it slightly more popular than ballroom dancing. It makes it seem a long way from the glory days and the Farr-Jones lead 1991 World Cup. Something drastic must happen.

I congratulate the Bulldogs in taking the “bull by the horns” with our u/7’s, u/9’s and u/11’s taking the field before the start of 1st Grade. This saw a great crowd and the future of Australian rugby bask in the lights of centre stage just before the main game.

With CSU in a rebuilding phase each score line didn’t necessarily suggest the nature of each game. With each grade being toughly fought out from beginning to end. Congratulations to the students, who in each game refused to lie down until the final whistle despite facing tough times on the scoreboard.

Results were as follows:

3rd XV – Bulldogs 35 V CSU 5

2nd XV – Bulldogs 46 V CSU 0

1st XV – Bulldogs 58 V CSU 10