Bryce Berry loves his footy.
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He loves getting together with his mates and throwing the ball around.
“I’m passionate about footy,” Bryce said.
It’s important to play for Gloucester; we want to keep the team here.
- Bryce Berry
But this year, his chance to play for Gloucester might be in doubt with the club struggling to get enough players for the under-14s division.
“It’s important to play for Gloucester; we want to keep the team here,” Bryce said.
The struggles to fill the under-14 side is something felt across all of Group Three league, according to the Gloucester Junior Rugby Club.
“Anything after under 14s is a battle,” club president Rodney Summerville said.
“Right across the board.”
The current club started up in 2014, getting a junior team in the Group Three league, which covers teams from Forster up to Wauchope.
This will be the fourth year the under 14s will have been playing together as a team and the players are devastated to think they won’t be able to play.
The club is still encouraging new players across all ages groups from 4 years old to 16 to come out and have a go.
“Especially those born in 2003,” club secretary Kristy Allardice said.
The passion for the sport runs deep, not only with the young players, but with the parents as well.
“It’s about great mateship,” Rodney said.
The club also emphasised how cost effective the sport is, with registration costing only $50, which includes shorts and socks and a gear bag for new players.
“There is also car pooling available,” Kristy stressed, with lots of parents willing to take others with them to away games.
Jack Ross is coaching the under 14s this year, having spent time coaching the senior players in the past. Training is Tuesday and Thursday from 4pm until 5pm at the Bert Gallagher Oval.
Anyone interested in learning more about the sport is encouraged to come out. The club needs final numbers by Thursday, March 16.