news, latest-news

He managed partnerships with the AFL at Manuka Oval, but former Cricket ACT chief Mark Vergano will now be helping rugby league in the battle for grassroots supremacy. Vergano has been appointed in a new role as the general manager of community rugby league for the Canberra Region Rugby League. It's his first position since stepping down from the top job with Cricket ACT earlier this year after more than 13 years in charge. His next challenge is to help grow rugby league for the next generation of footballers in the face of a relentless pursuit from the AFL. Raiders chief executive Don Furner said Vergano's experience would be vital in helping ward off the push from the GWS Giants in Canberra. "Because of their TV rights deal they're probably ahead of our sport and we need to catch up," Furner said. "There's no secret the funds they've had available as a sport and they have three or four times the amount of development officers we have in the field. "Sport is a competitive environment and we need to keep our numbers up." Vergano played a key role in the redevelopment of Manuka Oval, working with Cricket Australia to bring the national team to Canberra and helping develop grassroots programs in cricket. He also worked closely with the AFL and the GWS Giants in sharing the ground. "It's a fantastic opportunity to remain in sport and to build a sport I've been passionate about for a long time," Vergano said. "I'm really looking forward to the challenges of growing the game in Canberra. "Our numbers are very good. "We want to grow that and cash in on that and make sure that in Canberra and the region we're known as the No 1 sport for talent ID and for growing participants through a healthy environment." Vergano said it was important rugby league used its partnership with touch football to bring through juniors from a young age. He also acknowledged the inroads the Giants had made into the region. "Definitely it's a heart and minds thing, but we're a good, robust sport that's been here for a long time, so we're about building on that," Vergano said. "We will be getting into schools and using touch and other things such as nines to make sure kids are involved." Canberra Region Rugby League executive officer Karen Ebsworth has finished up with the organisation after 19 years.

https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/29e93dbd-6b1c-4645-a470-ee2cfbf16c48/r0_110_2000_1240_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg