The Collie Mongrels RUFC has expanded to include male, female and junior teams for the 2017 season.
The female team’s first tournament will be held in Busselton on January 28.
The female team will begin this season with multiple curtain-raiser matches in Collie.
Collie Mongrels RUFC player Peter Bellden said female and junior players throughout last season had expressed interest in playing for the club.
“The success of our men’s [team] this year was just phenomenal, we didn’t expect to win any games we thought we’d struggle, if we won one or two we’d be successful, we made the grand final and we had 38 registered players at the end of the year, it was pretty crazy,” he said.
“So we thought, we’ve tried to establish the club as a family club and wives and partners, children, grandparents everything everyone is welcome, it’s not just a group-of-people’s club it’s everybody’s club.
“The interest from the women was pretty phenomenal and couple of them expressed an interest to play and I’ve asked around and I have got enough to make a team and it should be pretty competitive.”
Mr Bellden has planned to coach the junior side throughout this year’s season.
He said playing and coaching has provided the opportunity to pass on knowledge and experience.
“Sport has been a part of my life all of my life so just being able to pass on little bits of knowledge and things that I have learnt and see the kids develop,” he said.
“Even with the seniors as well like seeing guys that have never played before change from being fresh at the start of the year and towards the end of the year they were coming along really good.”
Mr Bellden said the men’s team had a strong chance of becoming champions at the end of next season.
The 2017 rugby season will begin in April.
The Collie Mongrels RUFC plays at the Collie Senior High School rugby ground.
