The Eumundi Dragons Rugby Union Club is charging into the new season with confidence, eager to build on a growing wave of excitement for rugby across Australia. Based at the picturesque Eumundi Showgrounds, the club is positioning itself firmly within a bright future for the sport at both grassroots and elite levels.
With six home international tests scheduled this year, including the Bledisloe Cup, alongside a new Nations Cup competition featuring the best teams from the northern and southern hemispheres, rugby is enjoying renewed attention. Add the Super Rugby season and the lead up to Australia hosting the 2027 Rugby World Cup, and the momentum is clear.
In 2026, the Dragons aim to harness this enthusiasm by nominating teams across a wide range of junior age groups in the Sunshine Coast competition. The club plans to cater for four- and five-year-olds through Walla fun games focused on running, passing and catching. Six- and seven-year-olds will be offered Tri Tag Rugby, a non-contact format played seven-a-side that develops attack and defence skills. For eight- to 10-year-olds, modified rugby will introduce tackling, ball handling, defence and attack, along with non-contested scrums and line outs.
New players can register at Thursday training sessions starting at 4 pm from 12 February. Training days are rounded out with a free sausage sizzle and cool drink, a tradition enjoyed by players and families alike.
Club president Doug Toms said the Dragons are proud of Eumundi’s long rugby history, with adult teams competing locally from 1908 to 1920. The current junior club was formed in 2008 and has played in the Sunshine Coast Junior Rugby Union competition every year since, earning the Spirit of Rugby award in 2023 for sportsmanship.
Looking ahead, the club is seeking funding for full field lighting, which could pave the way for adult teams to return. “Hopefully our kids running around today in Dragons colours will still be wearing those same colours as part of adult teams in the near future,” Doug said. “We just need to start them on their sporting journey.”