7 Aug 2021
Merewether Carlton Rugby Club
Merewether Carlton Junior Rugby Club, or “The Greens” as they are affectionately known, are one of the Hunter’s largest junior clubs. Based in the beach side suburb of Merewether, the Greens currently field teams in every age group from U7s through to U18 with two teams in many age groups. The club has welcomed a massive increase in numbers in female players and now has an U13’s and U15’s team in the girls competition.
In 2021 the Greens have well over 300 boys and girls registered who are backed by both a dedicated committee and a team of volunteers who work together to provide a safe and welcoming playing environment for both Greens juniors and visiting teams.
The Greens also have a ‘Greenies Grommets’ program for boys and girls aged 2-7 years teaching basic fundamentals of rugby through fun ball games and activities, this is led by senior members of the Merewether Carlton club. Kicking off in 2015 with 35 registered grommets, the program has built year on year to this year having 125 registered grommets. This program provides a platform to progress into U7s and welcomes new families to the club.
To wear the Greens jersey means you are part of the extensive Greens community – part of the family. The natural amphitheatre of Gibbs Brothers Oval is the heart and soul of the club and the Greens take immense pride in welcoming visiting teams to their home turf. Merewether Carlton encourages the whole community to be a part of the club and this resonates on game day – supporters flank the hill, sponsors logos fly around the ground and most importantly the juniors take centre stage.
The Greens play a signature style of rugby from Juniors right through to Seniors – plenty of speed in the backline, hard-working forwards up front and the ability to utilise every inch of the paddock to score tries. The club is rich in tradition and operates with a one club mentality from Juniors through to Seniors. Game day at Gibbs Brothers Oval is a big day which usually wraps up with our Juniors rolling down the street to watch the Seniors at Townson Oval.
Mateship is key to the Greens. The wellbeing of the players and their families is the core to where the club sees itself in the future. The supportive pathway the club provides for players as they transition through juniors to seniors is not limited to the footy field. Through supportive leadership and an underlying emphasis on mateship the club hopes to provide opportunities on and off the field for all players. Many life lessons can be learnt through rugby!
The future of grassroots rugby in Merewether looks very bright. In coming years the club has big plans to improve their playing facilities, continue to nurture a love of rugby and ultimately encourage more kids to play rugby in the Hunter. In 2021 Merewether Carlton had a large number of players who achieved representative selection in the Hunter Wildfires, Central Coast and New England squads and several players reaching the higher representative levels of NSW Country, NSW President’s XV, NSW Juniors and NSW CHS.
With a club motto of Vi Et Consilio, which translates to ‘with strength and wisdom’, the Greens are undeniably a strong force in the Hunter Junior Rugby Union competition. Go Greens!
