KSPS Rugby Academy End of Year Report 2019

Yearly Overview

The Rugby Academy in 2019 hit new heights with participation num-

bers and ratios. By the end of the year, along with the Year 3s who

joined in Semester 2, the Academy sat at 80 participants with a 50/50

split between girls and boys. Coming from 28 boys and 12 girls in

2016, we have been so proud of the efforts and commitment of Acad-

emy participants. This year saw our elite players shine with 6 KSPS

students representing the NT across Rugby League and Touch Foot-

ball.

In Semester 1, we kicked things off as normal with our girls and boys

training sessions and touch comps as well as introduction to contact

and tackling for rugby league.. A new Primary Girls Cup Rugby

League Gala day was held with the KSPS team coming up victorious

over teams from Clyde Fenton and Katherine High. Our next gala day

was the annual Luke Kelly Cup and League Tag Gala Day, where again,

KSPS had the most participants (over 60 students). KSPS had two

teams in the League comp, coming second (behind Katherine High)

and 4th. Our League Tag teams performed well throughout the day.

At the end of the semester we had a large number of students travel

to Darwin to try out for the SSNT Touch Squads, during this time we

had 3 teams participate in the first Eels Touch Gala Day that Mr East

co-facilitated with Josh Phillips from the Parramatta Eels. The Mixed

3/4 Team and 5/6 Boys team came runners up for the day and the 5/6

Girls went through undefeated taking out their comp.

For Harmony Day in Semester 1, KSPS Rugby Academy did a ball swap

with t he Parramatta Eels, with NRL Players Bevan French and Josh

Hoffman designing an indigenous print ball that is proudly displayed in

our office. In turn members of the Rugby Academy painted a ball

representing our diverse KSPS Culture and sent it to Eels HQ.

In Semester 2, we continued our mixed touch competitions and

League tag comps at school. Mr East and Mel Whelan took a Girls

and Boys team to Darwin for the first NT All Schools Touch Comp with

both teams taking out the title against Darwin teams. Students also

did some recovery sessions at the NTIS, learning about stretching,

yoga and ice baths. At the end of Term 3 KSPS for the third straight

year held the Katherine Region League Tag Gal a Day. Entering 6

teams, KSPS finish the day =1st with Clyde Fenton. We had George

from Touch NT run a whole school Sporting Schools Program which

was well received and highly spoken about from students and staff

across the school.

We saw a return to Singapore with our U12 Girls Touch Team in Octo-

ber. The 11 girls raised over $12000 to support the trip which saw

them finish 2nd on ladder than 4th over all. The girls performance

amazingly and should be proud of their efforts.

We would like to congratulate Cooper Peirce who was as Eels Medal

Recipient for 2019, receiving his medallion at a ceremony before the

Eels game at TIO stadium . Cooper and Charli McWhirter were joint

Rugby Academy Best and Fairest at the Award Ceremony in Term 4,

with Charli also taking out KSPS Sportsperson of the Year.

Honour Role for 2019

Team Achievements

-2x Mixed Rugby League Teams entered in Luke Kelly Cup

(2nd and 4th of 10 teams)

-5 Mixed League Tag Teams in Macquarie Bank League Tag

Comp (Equal 1st)

--Boys and Girls Teams participated in NT All Schools Touch

(Both teams NT Champs)

- 3/4 Mixed (Runners Up), 5/6 boys (Runners Up) and 5/6

Girls (Champions) Teams participated in Eels Cup Touch

Comp

-6x Mixed League Tag Teams in Katherine Schools League

Tag Comp (Equal First)

- 4-6 Girls Team in the NRL NT Primary Girls League Comp

(Champions)

School Sports NT Representative Honours Rugby League: Ross Sutherland (Thomas Stothers re-serve) Boys Touch Football: Jack MacFarlane (Fletcher Randell reserve) Girls Touch Football: Charli McWhirter, Tempe Fletcher, Mia Harris, Georgia Dennis (Kiannah Bryant reserve)

Coach Achievement: Mr East, Finalist for NRL Teacher of the Year for 2nd straight year.

Projections for 2020

With our largest graduating group in many years leaving us at

the end of 2019, we expect some lower numbers for 2020.

We hope to continue our even split between boys and girls

and hope to participate in more team based opportunities.

Proposed Boys League Trip to Sydney

Improved marking of fields on the school oval

Continue to upskill senior students to support and

deliver activities to younger students

Formalise partnerships with Touch NT, NRL NT and Par-

ramatta Eels.

Increased partnership with Parramatta Eels through

their Community Partnerships position in Darwin.

Rolling out the 3rd round of KSPS Rugby Academy Train-

ing Shirt for 2020

Purchasing Touch Singlets (Thanks to Power Projects NT)

Scope for exploring additional sporting trips through

partnerships with NRL and TFA.

Offering of High Performance Training for our NT Reps

throughout the Year

2nd Harmony Day Allstars Game between Rugby Acade-

my Allstars and Indigenous Allstars Teams (Year 4-6)

Cheers!

-Jarrod, Darren and the NRL NT for resources

and assistance throughout the year.

-George, Brodie, Nathan and Touch NT for

ongoing support with resources and pro-

grams

-Josh Phillips, Michael Basan and Parramatta

Eels for their support through the Communi-

ty Carnival

initiative and NT Partnership

-Katherine High School, Glenn Hayles and

Alahna Marshall for their ongoing support.

- Sam Clarke and SSNT for their support.

-Power Projects NT for their sponsorship of

our new touch jerseys.

-Most importantly our helpers, especially Mr

Dale and Mel Whelan for their support with

coaching, trips away and carnivals.

Till next year…. Mr East (Academy Coach)