Rugby union: Hastings Valley Helgas are back in a newly-structured women's rugby competition

After a 12-month hiatus, Hastings Valley will rejoin the six-team competition this year with their inaugural coach in charge.

Chris Trutwein coached the Helgas in 2004 and 2005 before travel crucified that competition and the Helgas fell by the wayside.

They returned in 2017 for a season that saw them eliminated in the grand final qualifier.

The 14-minute games were deemed too short by a lot of their players who then left the club to play other sports.

But with a change of structure in the women’s game for the 2019 season, games will consist of four 10-minute quarters.

“The reason we lost the Helgas last time was that the sevens comp was a 14-minute game and the girls didn’t want to travel to Grafton to play 14 minutes of rugby,” Trutwein said.

As a result, the coach has put the call out for any woman to join the club in their women’s (under-14s, under-16s and open) teams.

“The reason I was interested in coaching the girls was to ensure we have a good vibrant girls team within our club,” he said.

“That will subsequently support a good, vibrant women’s competition within the zone.”

Trutwein encouraged the girls to join “the most successful club on the Mid North Coast over the last 10 years”.

“Girls are free to come down and have a run around to see if they like the feel of the game and the club before committing to playing,” he said.

“I think the girls should come and play for the a club that’s a family club, that is accepting of all people and we really promote a family atmosphere.”

Only a handful of the Helgas 2017 team have re-joined the club.

“We’re seeking players for all age groups and training will be at Oxley Oval at 5.30 on Tuesday and Thursday,” he said.

“The competition has changed in format to a 10-a-side competition where the senior girls will get a 40-minute game each week.”

Joining the Helgas would create a wider range of sporting teams women could join.

“We want to see ladies rugby across the zone and on a bigger scale take off,” Trutwein said.

“There are a lot of other sporting codes attracting female players and we’ve found from past experience that the women who get involved have a really good time.”

With the competition set to kick-off in early April, the 19-year veteran of the club encouraged players to join so they could start training.

“Our aim would be to see a local derby grand final in August in all grades,” he said.

For further information ring Chris Trutwein on 0438 180 297.

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.