Armidale Blues have 12 players signed up in the under 16s division this year and are putting a callout to other junior players who are interested in playing this season. 

Armidale Blues junior rugby union vice president Simon Stuart said the introduction of the under 16s side was exciting for the competition and the club was hoping it can continue to develop young players to make the transition to senior grades. 

“We have finally done enough work to get 16s involved with the program so they are not left out,” he said.

“Normally they could play up until they were 12 and unless they went to TAS, they couldn’t play. 

 “There are more kids sitting on the fence seeing if we are really going to work or not.

“We are starting to work so we need those kids to come off the fence and start joining up.” They are going to be playing every weekend now until finals in August.

“Currently we have about 12 players and we need another eight.

“We plan to take the kids we have got now and eventually, in two years’ time, have 16s and 18s so now we will actually have a pathway for 16s through to 18s.”

The new side played their first game on Saturday against Tamworth where they went down 50 points to 35.

“Their first game was on Saturday and everybody loved it,” Stuart said.

 “It has been a bit of sleeping giant and it takes the parents to push it and now we have some interested parents.

“I would say it will be quite successful. 

“The main thing is we have solid numbers in the junior age groups and are expanding every year.”

For more information on joining the club, visit the Armidale Junior Blues Rugby Union 2016 Facebook page.