Round 1 Vikings News

Dear Vikings Rugby Community,

🏉Winds of Change – Season 2024 at Vikings Rugby🏉

As we gather at the start of the season, I extend a warm welcome to our players new, old and returning, our coaches and managers, S&C team, Sports trainers, other volunteers and supporters. Of course, we also acknowledge and extend our thanks to our sponsors who help make this club one of the BEST in Australia.

This season marks not just the beginning of another chapter in our storied legacy but also heralds a period of significant change and evolution. We welcome Ryan and his family into the Vikings fold as the club grows and evolves. With the winds of change at our backs, we are poised to embark on a journey that promises to be our most thrilling yet. Our club has always been a beacon of resilience and innovation, and this year, we will continue to channel these strengths to reach new heights of excellence. Vikings BEST in 2024.

Reflecting on our past successes, we carry forward the spirit of determination, teamwork, and excellence that has always defined us. We stand on the shoulders of giants, those who have donned the Vikings jersey before us and set the standard for what it means to be part of this great club.

Reflecting on 2023, ultimately, we had a successful year celebrating our 50th Anniversary, winning both ACT Club Championships, with all six grades in finals and our four premier teams into the big-dance at grand finals time. For the second year in a row our mighty 2XV came away with the premiership. Our U18 boys Gen-Red side displayed great grit and determination in the U18 div 1 Grand-Final, the first club side in 12 years to knock off the private schools dominations – a close game only out of grasp in the dying seconds and Marist snuck the win. We continue to develop great talent at Vikings with dozens of our players exposed and rising to representative programs all the way to the Wallabies, Wallaroos and lately the Men’s Australian 7s team.

Off-field a revitalised Committee and Executive have been working hard to set the club up for success, supporting our new coaching directed and our performance rugby program to enable the club on the path to achieve great success over the coming season. Our events will be elevated in 2024 with some refinement coming (watch this space). While our leading whole of club off-field programs, initiatives and events will continue, including:

• • Lean on Me Wellness Program
  • Charity & Community Partnerships – this year we are supporting Mullets for Mental Health and raising funds the Woden School P&C.
  • Supporting Coach, Trainer and Volunteer development
  • Expanded leadership group to help evolve and drive player lead initiatives.

Events 2024

• • Ladies Day
  • Juniors Day
  • Hagar & Helga’s Day
  • Sponsors Night (17 May)
  • Charity Day
  • Sports Lunch (9th August – National Press Club)
  • Club Presentation

And our Rugby programs, including;

• • Generation Red Program
  • Vikings Academy and Wider Training Group
  • Modified Rugby Program

Let’s embrace the changes to catapult us to achieve the extraordinary. To launch our best season yet, we will

• • Unite as one club, bound by comradery and a shared vision.
  • Innovate in our strategies, training, and play, staying ahead of the curve to be BEST Vikings.
  • Celebrate our diversity, drawing strength from the unique talents of each member.
  • Dedicate ourselves to the game and club we love, playing with honour and pride.

As we set sail on this epic 2024 voyage let us embrace the challenges ahead with the same courage and resolve that has seen us through seasons past. Together, we will navigate this season with the fierce spirit of Vikings, conquering every challenge and seizing every opportunity… whatever it takes!

Remember, we are more than just a club; we are a family, united by a common goal and a shared passion for rugby. To our returning warriors, your experience and leadership are invaluable. To our new recruits, your energy and ambition are the lifeblood of our future. To our dedicated supporters and family your support on the sidelines, full of cheer, pushes us to victory. Together, we will write the next glorious pages of the Vikings Rugby Club story.

Here’s to a season of hard-fought victories, success, growth, and the relentless pursuit of glory, so sharpen the axe these memories will last a lifetime. May it be a rallying cry that echoes throughout the year! 🏆 Let’s make it count! Vikings BEST

Yours in rugby,

Ant Davies

Proud President  – Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Club

Season Preview – Coaching Director –  Ryan Schultz

The preparation for the 2024 season started officially back in October of 2023 with our Academy training block that provided a comprehensive five-week program for identified Under 18 players, recruitment targets and any keen returning Vikings players. The program was a great opportunity for me to implement our new training methodology that would provide all players and insight into what 2024 would look like and how we wanted to play. There were great numbers and I am confident the Academy played a big part in confirming a lot of our Gen Red U18 team to transition into Colts and also providing myself with an insight into the playing group.

Our preseason then officially kicked off at the end of January with a three week club integrated program that would see every playing member at the club train together. The aim for this was again to provide the opportunity for all players and coaches to experience how we want to train and play in 2024. There were healthy numbers with an average of around 80 / 90 players from all programs at each session and from my first experience of the club being together, it highlighted the strength of the community at Vikings. As the pre-season progressed, we commenced squad training in preparation for trials against Southern Districts, Royals and 1st grade participating in the Aus Club Champs in Brisbane against Wests. There were also some new initiatives introduced during this time with the inaugural social Cricket Day, full Club Induction and integrated Tuesday sessions for Whites Squad and Vi-Queens.

With the end of preseason been and gone, the focus now is ensuring all of our Premier teams are well prepared for Round 1 against Uni-North Owls (away). I am confident that we have the playing group to be successful this season in all teams but am very wary that there is a lot of hard work ahead of us on and off the field. The aim is to ensure that at the start of the season we are effective at our own fundamentals and to tactically advances ourselves so we are ready for the business end of the year. I am very excited to be a part of the Vikings community and my first six months has validated all the positive comments I have been told about the club. Looking forward to Round 1.

2024 Ladies Day

This year our annual Ladies Day event will be hosted in the recently renovated Erindale Vikings Beer Garden on an exclusive basis, with the best seats overlooking Viking Park and Round 3 fixtures guaranteed! This comfort will be accompanied by a 5hr all-inclusive food (varied menu /multiple rounds) and beverage package provided by our friends at Vikings Group and 4 Pines Brewing Company / Brookvale Union respectively; with raffles and prizes also to be won!

Venue: Viking Park, (Erindale Vikings Beer Garden)

Date: Saturday, 20 April

Time: 12pm – 5pm

RSVP: Friday 12 April – (please include guest names)

Cost: $70

Player Leadership Group 2024

Introducing our 2024 Club Captain: Harry Davis

2024 Club Leadership group

L-R: Emma Stuart, Joel Leiper, Keynan Tauakipulu , Monty Royston, Harry Davis, Maleli Gadai, Lauren Freeman, Andrew Robinson.

Not Pictured: Sam Gibson, James Knight and Allana Sikimeti.

Plenty of planning around the social calendar, possible tours and merch items underway as well as our first charitable cause for 2024 – Mullets for Mental Health – jump on the link below to show your support!

Vikings Group – Community Sports Champion

Congrats Baden Godfrey!

Looking forward to seeing Baden play in Red and White again this season on the back of winning the Clubs MVP award in 2023!