Former Waratahs coach Darren Coleman has backed Newcastle to deliver as tournament hosts ahead of the 2025 Buildcorp Australian Rugby Shield.
A two-time Shute Shield winner with Warringah (2018) and Gordon (2020), Coleman currently heads up Hunter Wildfires as director of rugby following his three-year Super Rugby Pacific stint at Daceyville.
Learn more about the Buildcorp Australian Rugby Shield.
Coleman told rugby.com.au the opportunity for Hunter to field a Wildfires Development side in the men’s ARS – kicking off Wednesday October 1 in Newcastle - would further develop a "growing rugby region".
“It was a bit of a dual-purpose thing, they needed another team and the tournament’s being played right in front of us so it’s a good opportunity to develop our players and coaches,” Coleman said.
“There are good players who didn’t get a lot of game time this year because we [Hunter Wildfires] don’t have third grade, so we’re putting in a lot of those players along with our graduating colts and the best of our local comp players.
“Teams like Maitland and Merewether have been really strong. There’s a real appetite for rugby around here, it’s a growing environment.”
The Wildfires Development team will tackle intra-state rivals NSW Country Cockatoos in Pool A alongside Queensland Suburban and Tasmania’s Jack Jumpers.
Coleman expects feathers to fly when the local boys clash with NSW Country but will himself be taking a step back to mentor other coaches across the tournament.
“There’s a few local boys who tried for that team and didn’t make it. It’s funny, I’ll actually be working as a mentor with NSW Country,” Coleman said.
“Matt Hopkins has done a great job as our [Hunter Wildfires] forwards coach and we’ll use the ARS to expand his coaching experience and CV.
“We’ve also got Phil Bradford who’s coached in the MLR and guys like Rob Pulievea who are experienced players we think can bring a lot to the group.
“It’ll be a great mix of players and coaches, we’re looking forward to it.”
Australian Rugby Shield Men's Teams: Wildfires Development, NSW Country, Tasmania, Australian Defence Force, Queensland Country, Queensland Suburban, South Australia, NSW Suburban
Australian Rugby Shield Women's Teams: ACT & SNSW, NSW Country, Queensland Country, Queensland Suburban, Sydney Women, South Australia
