Just days after Penrith Emus were cut from the Shute Shield competition, Penrith Junior Rugby president Chris Hicks has promised the junior association will keep rugby alive in western Sydney. While Hicks said it was vital that a Shute Shield club was re-formed in his region eventually, the president said this week’s news wouldn't impact operations of the successful junior association. “Penrith Juniors is business as usual. We’ve been in contact with NSW Junior Rugby and Sydney Junior Rugby over the last few weeks to reassure everyone that we are 100% alive and kicking,” Hicks told Rugby News. “We’ve been trying to support the senior club as much as possible, but our junior program continues as normal. Our U13s side, who were State Champions last year, look to be even stronger and we’ll be fielding a side in every ago group at the NSW Junior State Championships except for the U15s.” Hicks added that success was nothing new for Penrith’s junior sides, who w