To Hornets Players and Parents.

As a result of the NSW Touch Regional Review, there are some important changes to Hills Hornets and our participation in future Junior State Cups.

Background

In a previous correspondence, I informed you of changes to regional boundaries as part of a regular review process. Although Hills Hornets remained in the Scorpions Region, we were the only remaining Scorpions club that currently participates in the Junior State Cup Southern Conference.

It was flagged to us that this may mean that Hills Hornets would move to the Northern  Conference.

This of course meant a change for our JSC participants, who were possibly being asked to accept another change, after moving into the Southern Conference only 3 years ago.  No other club across NSW has been asked to accept a scenario where they are required to move venues twice.

The Survey

We surveyed participants from previous JSC’s to get their view on what direction they thought would be best for the club, themselves and their families.  The response was fantastic, with well articulated opinions and rationale for both moving North and staying South.  Overall most of those surveyed selected Wagga Wagga as their preferred tournament.

The executive relayed this position as the club position to NSW Touch.

The Outcome

NSW Touch was appreciative of the feedback provided.  This led them to a decision that Hills Hornets will stay at Southern Conference for 2022 and 2023, after which we will transition to the Northern Conference.

The main driver to eventually move north was to align the regions with the conferences.

This will disappoint some of our participants who have fallen in love with what Wagga Wagga has provided us over the last 3 years.  There are many wonderful memories for so many players and parents in that short time.  With that in mind, we look forward to the opportunity to compete in Wagga Wagga for the next two years, before we bid farewell (with perhaps an appropriate farewell celebration).  We will then set our sights to continuing our success in the Northern Conference.

Details for 2022 and 2023

NSW Touch have confirmed venues and dates for the next 2 years as follows.  Please note the order these tournaments have been reversed.

Southern Conference will be held at Wagga Wagga

  • Friday 18th to Sunday 20th February 2022.
  • Friday 17th to Sunday 19th February 2023.

The full announcement can be read here.

Many thanks for your ongoing support.

Kind Regards,
Brad Mitchell
President
Hills Hornets Touch