By Ron Wood

Welcome to the 400th Edition of the Rogues Rant. Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun!

One positive that has come out of the Wallabies performances over the last 12 months is the fact that many Rugby enthusiasts have finally come to the realization of the state of Rugby in Australia. More importantly, we are finally seeing the sort of change in attitude that is required if Australian Rugby is once again going to be up there with the best of them. The appointment by Rugby Australia of people like Joe Schmidt and David Nucifora is clearly a step in the right direction. Men of this calibre who were instrumental in the rise of Irish Rugby is just what the Doctor ordered for Rugby in Australia. Everybody must now accept that the process to resurrect Australian Rugby is not going to happen overnight or in the current tenure of Joe Schmidt’s term as Coach. Changes must be made to the Australian Rugby’s  Player and Coaching Development Programs if the sort of improvement we are looking for is to be achieved. That will take quite some time.    

It’s Finals time for 2024. Hard to believe that there are only three weeks left until the end of another Rugby season. The Finals have fallen as expected, with Minor Premiers Shoalhaven going into the Major Semi Final against Kiama on Saturday on the reigning Premiers' home ground, Shoalhaven Rugby Park. It will be a Macarthur derby at Ocean Park on Sunday when Campbelltown take on neighbours Camden in the cut-throat Minor Semi. If Kiama are going to prevent Shoalhaven from completing the elusive three-peat of IDRU Premierships then I reckon they have to be the first team through to the Grand Final by winning this weekend. The last three-peat was achieved by Shamrocks in 1992 -1994, with other back-to-back runs achieved by Kiama 1973 – 1976 and 1966 – 1968, with Vikings doing four in a row from 1962 – 1965. Shoalhaven and Kiama have clearly been the best two sides all year, with Shoalhaven currently sitting on 37 wins on the trot in Illawarra Rugby. Both sides have had disrupted runs going into the Finals but both have displayed strong form in recent weeks. I don’t think  there will be more than a converted try between the teams this week at fulltime. My tip: Shoalhaven to Win. On Sunday Campbelltown will start favourites against Camden. Camden’s form in the run to the Finals has not been good. The Rams won last week over Bowral but lost their two previous outings, while The Quinnies go into this week on the back of four straight wins. My tip: Campbelltown to Win.  

Rugby Diary 

Saturday August 24           Major Semi Finals – Shoalhaven Rugby Park

                                           1st Grade       Shoalhaven V Kiama

                                            2nd Grade     Bowral V Kiama

Sunday August 25             Minor Semi Finals – Ocean Park, Woonona

                                           1st Grade       Campbelltown V Camden

                                            2nd Grade     Shoalhaven V Camden

Saturday August 31           Finals – Vikings Oval, Wollongong

Wednesday September 4     IDRU Grand Final Dinner/Presentation

Saturday September 7         IDRU Grand Final Day – Collegians Sports Ground, Figtree