The Rogues Rant #402

29th August 2024

Welcome to The Rogues Rant, an occasional look at all things Rugby.

By Ron Wood

Some not so good news this week with the announcement that David Nucifora will not be staying long term with Rugby Australia. Nucifora will become the High-Performance Director for Scottish Rugby. Nucifora has spent the last few months helping to plan the way forward for Australian Rugby High Performance pathways on a temporary part-time basis. He will finish his commitments with Rugby Australia by November and will be joining Scottish Rugby, initially on a two-year contract. Peter Horne will remain as RA Director of High Performance to work with Wallaby Coach Joe Schmidt and his assistant Laurie Fisher. Rugby Australia CEO Phill Waugh is confident that solid pathways in terms of High-Performance programs will be in place before Nucifora completes his advisory role.

A big weekend at Vikings Oval coming up with the IDRU Preliminary Finals set for Saturday and the IDRU Junior Grand Finals to be played on Sunday. Vikings Oval is one of the best rectangular Football facilities in the region and is currently in first-class order. I’m hearing that the Vikings Club have some big plans for the venue’s future as Vikings continue to rebuild the club after some lean years. By all reports things are looking up for 2025 and beyond.

The First Grade Final on Saturday is going to be a close contest between two clubs who have thoroughly earned their success in 2024. Both sides have big mobile forward packs and some classy backs who look to play an attacking brand of football. The side that can get away to a good start and maintain their structure for 80 minutes will survive to get another chance to end Shoalhaven’s winning streak in next week’s Grand Final.

The sides have only met once this year when Kiama got the points 33 – 25, way back in April after having to fight back from an early 17-point deficit which took the full 80 minutes to achieve. Their second-round clash was washed out. Their season performance has been eerily similar, both losing twice to Shoalhaven with Campbelltown losing to Camden once as well, so Kiama finished the season slightly better than the Quinnies. Their scorelines in matches against the other clubs have been very similar. Everything points to a very close contest between two in form teams with plenty to play for. But who is going to win. My record over the years of tipping winners in the Final Series is not the best although my record last year was pretty good and I’m two from two so far this year. I think I’ll stick with the Cows by a whisker, although a narrow win to the Quinnies would not surprise! Kiama to Win.

Rugby Diary

Saturday August 31 Finals – Vikings Oval, Wollongong

First Grade – Kiama V Campbelltown

Second Grade – Kiama V Shoalhaven

Sunday September 1 IDRU Junior Grand Finals – Vikings Oval

9.00AM Under 10’s – Kiama V Avondale

10.15AM Under 11’s – Vikings V Kiama

11.30AM Under 12’s – Kiama V Avondale

1.00PM Under 13’s – Camden V Shoalhaven

2.30 PM Under 14’s – Avondale V Kiama

4.00PM Under 16’s – Kiama V Camden

Wednesday September 4 IDRU Grand Final Dinner/Presentation