Colts (U20's Program)
The 2023 Colts Season will be a season to remember. The preseason began in October 2022 with a number of standards set to ensure the effort and attitude required was met by the young stags. This block saw a group of men tested, challenged and rewarded at times but most importantly saw 100 players embark on the Gordon careers. 
The season was broken up with the Colts competing in a number of 7’s tournaments in February which was very timely with all players getting very itchy to run around and compete. The group of colts entered two teams in each tournament with the first tournament being in Hamilton in the Mick Whale Memorial 7s Tournament where they won their first bit of silverware for 2023. The second tournament they were also good enough to take away the trophy at the Col Crawford Warringah 7s Tournament. This success sprinkled through the group and really bonded the group in hard work paying off. The attitude and excitement around the program were electric and players knew where they wanted to be in August. I would like to thank Nick McCamley, Hunter Nicholas & Darren Beasley for their leadership in the Colts 7s program.
As the season slowly began to roll around we played in three very competitive trials against West Harbour, Eastwood & Randwick. A tough hit out was exactly what the doctor ordered and the boys were very happy with how they were tracking, and as all preseasons the trials are a really good test to see how the program and players are tracking.
To the season GRFC were proudly happy to announce we would be competing in four colts divisions 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th grade colts. The season saw a lot of ups and downs with some great wins and some sad losses but to the credit of our coaching staff, the support of our parents group and attitude of our players I can sit back and say it was a very positive season in a number of ways. The growth on and off the field was outstanding from the way they conducted themselves in public, to the player led community engagements with our junior village clubs was truly remarkable and I am so happy and proud to be a part of these players future at Gordon and beyond. We finished the season with a mixed bag of placings with the 1st colts finishing 6th, the 2nd colts finishing 3rd, the 3rd colts finishing 7th and the 4th colts finishing 5th. Although we didn’t take any of the competitions out I can sit back proud of everything they did win internally, both individually but as a squad.
This season would not be possible without the staff behind the scenes who all juggle life, work and coaching to ensure this group is given the best opportunity to succeed on and off the field and I can’t thank them enough.
To Ru Wilson, Alan Jenkins, Hunter Nicholas, Jack Bowditch, Nick McCamley, Steve Turner, George Fifita, Andrew Hutton, Darren Beasley, Sam MacDonald, Sacha Willesee, Chris Keyes, Kieran Hall, Brandon Egan-Walters, Sam Richardson, Seb Wall, Andrew Lennon, Brad Harrison, Maddie Linnet, Ace Naati and finally to Matt Glascott and the board I thank you for your support, effort, energy and intent to ensure we provide the gold standard and hope you are proud of what we have achieved in 2023.
I would like to thank Ru Wilson who will be stepping down in 2023 as he begins a new chapter with his family, Ru has given 2 years to the colts program and will be sorely missed next year your calmness and unconditional support has been greatly appreciated and I wish you all the best as you welcome baby Olive Rose Wilson into the world. Also thank you Bec Wilson who gave up lots of Saturdays, weekday date nights and probably listened to hours of phone calls between Ru and I during the year, so thank you and I owe you some baby sitting!
We also say Goodbye and Goodluck to Nick McCamley who is moving down to the Manly Marlins as the assistant coach of 1st Colts. Nick has been a servant for the last 3 years and has had an incredible impact on the junior players coming through, supporting pathways and initiative’s and giving up his time for these boys so thank you Nick and all the best for 2024.
The season was wrapped up with two teams competing in the Sri Lankan International Invitational 7s Tournament Sri Lanka, in October. The teams were both very successful and unfortunately played each other in the semi finals where UTS Gordon 1 beat UTS Gordon 2. The UTS Gordon 1 Team took on the home team St Peters who were in their centenary year and had been undefeated for some time. The UTS Gordon team really turned it on and took out the final 40-5. This was followed with the players coaching and engaging with juniors of the Sri Lankan
Gordon really is more than just a club - we are a community that is invested in seeing our young players grow up to be good humans (and having some fun playing some rugby along the way!).
If you would like to receive more information on our Colts program, please contact us at pathways@gordonrugby.com.au or call Josh directly on 0449 6583.
