Pre-season training will commence for seniors in mid-January and junior training will commence in February.

The Club has committed to the Illawarra district competition in 2017 and to its place in NSW Country Rugby.

Bowral Blacks club president Mark Freund said the club had a proud tradition in country rugby which has been ongoing for more than 40 years.

“We uphold the unique values that country rugby bring to a regional centre such as the Highlands,” he said. 

The Blacks will submit teams in under-7, under-8, under-9, under-10, under-11, under-12, under-13, junior 2nd XV (under-14 and under-15), junior 1st XV (under-16 and under-17), colts (under-18 and under-19), and seniors.

In the seniors the club expect to field a first and second grade team next year, and possibly a third grade team.

As part of the Illawarra district, Blacks players will be eligible for selection in representative teams at an Illawarra and NSW Country level, and then at NSW State level.

Illawarra representative teams will compete at the NSW Country championships in May 2017 and the NSW State Championships in June 2017.

The under-13 Illawarra team will also tour New Zealand in April and the under-16 team will tour Japan in September. 

The Club has called on all players interested in joining Bowral Blacks next year.

Junior players from under-7 to under-17 should email Ross Webster at ross.webster@bowralrugby.com.au, if interested or for further information.

Colts players, (under-18 and under-19) and seniors should email Peter Burt at peter.burt@bowralrugby.com.au.

Freund said the Club are looking forward to another great season after the success of last year’s senior team. 

The Bowral Blacks made it to the preliminary final of the Illawarra District Rugby Competition. The team won the last seven games in the lead up to the grand final qualifier and broke an eight-year streak since Bowral’s first grade team made it to finals. 

“2016 was  an exciting year for the club both on and off the paddock. We have seen excellent competition and great games of rugby being played at all levels. Special mention to the Blacks senior team for their incredible season this year. The team developed in to a cohesive team under the expert coaching from Gene Fairbanks, Al Kanaar and Peter Burt, and the results speak for themselves.” 

The club are now taking expressions of interest now for girls interested in joining the club and playing next year. Email ross.webster@bowralrugby.com.au for more.