LeagueNews.co | Robbie Hamilton
As time winds down on 2023, we can't help but feel a rush of excitement as we reflect on the monumental year for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs' official website, bulldogs.com.au, has just released a special holiday message that highlights the club's achievements and latest news.
One of the standout successes of the year has been the thriving Canterbury-Bankstown District Junior Rugby League (CBDJRL), which celebrated its 100+ year anniversary.
With the recent opening of the 2024 season registration period, over 200 children have already signed up to join the competition next year.
What's even more impressive is that more than 50% of these registrations come from a target age group, designed to attract greater numbers to the game and bolster the local talent pool.
This continued growth is a testament to the Bulldogs' commitment to strengthening and developing rugby league in the community.
Thanks to the Club's recent announcement of subsidised junior league registrations, we can expect these numbers to keep flourishing in the new year.
This initiative will provide young families with greater access to the great game of rugby league and all the invaluable benefits it brings.
To find a local club, including one of the 12 junior league clubs, simply head to playrugbyleague.com and enter your postcode.
Rugby league provides a fantastic opportunity to connect within the community, and we enthusiastically encourage everyone to get involved.
We must extend the sincerest gratitude to the Canterbury League Club, as their generous funding of up to $100.00 per child in the Under 5s to Under 13s age groups for the 2024 season has provided much-needed relief in these challenging times.
The growth of the junior league has also resulted in increased participation of young females in rugby league in the local area.
Although we await the results of the NRLW submission with bated breath, we are thrilled to continue implementing and expanding the world-class development and pathway program for aspiring female footballers.
This is all done while maintaining the stellar track record of producing top-quality NRL male stars.
As the year progressed, we witnessed an influx of locally grown NRL and NRLW stars, with several local juniors making their debuts across the elite leagues.
While the ultimate goal is to establish a seamless pathway from junior league through to the NRLW, we take immense pride in seeing the junior representatives succeed in the NRLW and achieve great feats.
The future is bright for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, as we continue to make strides in junior development, community engagement, and gender equality in rugby league.