It was a proud day for Eltham Rugby Union Football Club as a strong contingent of our junior players took part in the VJRC Development Program, run by Rugby Victoria. Despite the sweltering heat, every one of our players brought fantastic energy, effort and attitude — exactly what we expect from Eltham players.
Who Represented Eltham
In the U15 Boys program, Eli Su’a flew the Eltham flag alongside more than 80 players from across the state. It was a highly competitive environment and a brilliant opportunity for Eli to test himself against some of Victoria’s best emerging talent.
The U18 Boys were represented by a strong group of six: Ben Hurdle, Travis Murray, Trent Murray, Tristan Coelho, Alex Dodd and Ben King. With around 130 players in the U18 program, the standard was exceptional, and our boys held their own throughout the day. Representing the East Region (Treang), it was fantastic to see Eltham so well represented at this level.
On the girls side, Talise Botha and Sethumi Liyanage represented Eltham in the U16 Girls program. Both players showed tremendous commitment and we couldn’t be prouder of how they carried themselves on the day.
A Once-in-a-Generation Moment
A particular highlight for the U18 Boys was the opportunity to spend time with Joe Schmidt, head coach of the Australian Wallabies. Joe took time out to work with the group, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience at the highest level of the game. For young players with ambitions to progress in rugby, the chance to learn directly from a World Cup-winning coach is the kind of moment that can shape a career. We hope it inspired every one of them.
The Josh Davis Fund
We are proud to share that a number of our players were supported to attend the program through the Josh Davis Fund. Josh was a much-loved member of our club — a junior and senior player who gave a great deal to Eltham Rugby over the years. Following his passing, his family made a generous donation from his estate to the club, and we have dedicated those funds to creating opportunities for our players to attend courses, trials, development programs and more.
It is a beautiful legacy, and one we honour every time a player pulls on their boots with the support of that fund behind them. We are deeply grateful to the Davis family for their gift to our club and our players. ❤️
Stage 2 Ahead
This was Stage 1 of the VJRC Development Program, which runs for a further three weeks. We wish all of our players the very best as they push to progress through to Stage 2. Whatever the outcome, they have already made us incredibly proud.
The future of rugby at Eltham is in excellent hands. 🖤💛
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