Castlereagh Rugby League have added a Castlereagh Community Cup competition to their program this year which will see 14 clubs will take to the field in what will be an historic year.
In addition to the regular Castlereagh League competition this season which will feature 10 clubs, the Community Cup will welcome four more clubs into the mix this year.
Castlereagh League Chairman, Chris Deighton, said the Castlereagh Community Cup is a new competition designed to offer rugby league to smaller communities who otherwise would have no competition.
“It will be a short sharp competition that could well be the first step towards the clubs being involved playing in the Castlereagh League competition in future years!” Deighton said.
Deighton welcomed the return of both the Trangie Magpies and Gulargambone Galahs to the Castlereagh playing fields who, along with the Mendooran Tigers and the Walgett Dragons, will be the teams competing in the first Community Cup.
“It may only be a short competition, but it will give the players the opportunity to represent their communities, and then if a player wants to continue to play football this year, they can transfer to another club and do so,” Deighton said.
“At the same time, it gives the club’s committee an insight as to what it takes to run a club should they aspire to joining the Castlereagh League competition in the future!”
The Community Cup competition commences next month with the grand final to be played early May.
In other Castlereagh League news, the very popular Reserve Grade competition will this year be played much earlier in the season, with the Reggies to join in Round 3 of the Castlereagh League competition.
The Castlereagh League competition will feature 10 clubs this season, with the Gilgandra Panthers returning to the fray after sitting out last season.
The season will open with the annual League Tag knockout being played at Cobar at the end of March, followed by the Youth League and Senior Rugby League knockout at Gulgong early April.
Much interest will centre on the Coolah Kangaroos who, apart from being the 2025 Clayton Cup holders, will be aiming for a three-peat of Castlereagh League premierships!
