Aussie Rules and soccer have long been Wyndham’s preferred football codes, but at Hoppers Crossing’s Grange P-12 College, the two rugbys – league and union – are king.
A quick scan of the school’s recent results explains why.
“We participated in a tournament over 6 weeks against rugby union academy schools from across Victoria in which we didn’t drop a game so we went undefeated,” said Shannon Love, Grange’s head league and union coach of its under 16 boys rugby union team which won the final of statewide Rebels Shield competition on September 6.
“Last year we won it as well so we’ve gone back to back,” he added, before pointing out that their league teams have been doing well too.
“The day after on September 7 we won the Storm Cup for under 14 boys in rugby league.”
There was more.
“We won the under 14’s under 16’s Cam Munster and Cam Smith Shields in girls and boys rugby league.
We won the sevens academy competitions for under 14, under 16’s and under 18s for boys and girls too.”
Grange College aren’t just good at the rugby codes, they’re Victoria’s undisputed powerhouse, something Mr Love attributed to the dedicated programs it runs in conjunction with Melbourne Storm and Melbourne Rebels.
So which is more popular?
“It’s 50/50” he said, pointing out that while some boys specialise in one or the other, many play both.
“Girls quite often play across both codes,” Mr Love said.
For all the junior level success, Mr Love said personal and professional development was the ultimate goal.
“We got players that have that ability so I suppose our job is to develop them and keep them accountable and develop them into professional rugby players.”
Cade Lucas
