Wests Tigers plan to host a significant number of events at its new Centre of Excellence (now Zurich Centre) as part of the club’s mission to ‘enrich the lives of the community’.
A recent Members Christmas BBQ at the club’s Concord base was a big hit, attracting more than one thousand to the Zurich Centre across the day.
Another recent community engagement event at Wests Tigers HQ saw players, parents and officials from junior rugby league clubs come together to ‘show their stripes’.
With around 9,400 junior rugby league players in Wests Tigers catchment area, the club’s relationship with its junior clubs is obviously vitally important.
As Community Manager, Keehan Diamond explains, having the Zurich Centre as a home base, has given junior engagement a boost.
“This was a first for the club and it was great to see every club in our two catchment areas (Inner-West & South-West) represented,” said Diamond.
I can’t emphasise enough how important these clubs are in terms of driving participation and enjoyment, and the two go hand in hand.
Keehan Diamond
“This place (the Zurich Centre) is quite amazing and it really does help being able to hold these types of events here.
“We gave all the parents a guided tour and I think it helps them visualise the role we play as a club in development, and the pathways that we provide.”
Several Wests Tigers players were in attendance including Balmain local junior Brandon Tumeth, and Campbelltown juniors Emily Curtain and Justin Matamua.
Two players from every junior club were invited to the event, and judging by the photos, everyone had a ball.
Edward Stanton-Correia is the League and Club Support Coordinator for the Balmain Junior Rugby League. He was also there and says the event was a tremendous success.
“It was awesome to bring the junior league clubs from Balmain, Group 6 and Wests Macarthur all together at the new Centre of Excellence,” he said.
“It was great that our junior players were able to rub shoulders with some of their heroes, including Brandon (Tumeth) who is a Concord Burwood United junior.
I think these types of events are really important to help junior clubs drive participation and development."
Edward Stanton-Correia
Wests Tigers would like to take this opportunity to wish all of its junior rugby league clubs a very merry Christmas and safe festive season.
