Western Sydney Two Blues will rely on an exciting crop of youngsters to help them navigate a difficult pool at this weekend’s Kiama 7s. 

But Two Blues fans have plenty of reason to look forward to the $35,000 prize money tournament. 

“We’ve got a lot of talented young boys who are still learning how to play the game,” Two Blues Sevens coach Kruger Roache told Rugby News. 

“But they still won the plate up at Darwin and the U20s division at Hamilton earlier this month. 

“Then we’ve had four boys picked in the Australian Youth Sevens team and another two boys who have been training with the Australian Mens Sevens squad. 

“They’re all 18 year old boys so it’s a really exciting time at the club.”

Roache said he’s been thrilled with his sides summer so far, but said the Kiama tournament was the unofficial grand final of the Sydney Sevens season. 

“That’s the feeling that the boys have. Everything builds towards Kiama and we really want to perform well there. 

“We’ll have a very young squad compared to some of the other teams but I think we’ll give it a good crack. I’ve got three guys in there mid 20s, then the rest of the team are colts age.”

The 2019 Shute Shield was a season to forget for the recently renamed Western Sydney Two Blues, particularly at colts level. 

But Roache said the worst was certainly behind the club and that expectations were high moving forward in both grade and colts. 

“We set all the wrong records last year in colts and its been a bit of a process to get that program back to where it needs to be. 

“After a few of the big losses last year, we lost the weaker guys at the club but now the boys that are here are really motivated to turn things around. 

“There is a huge amount of talent in western Sydney and unfortunately a lot of those boys end up playing at other clubs. The focus at the moment is to make sure we’re keeping the players in our catchment area at Western Sydney and if we can do that consistently, then the results will come. 

“It’s not going to be easy, but everyone at the club is committed and excited to move forward.”

But before the 2020 Shute Shield season begins, the Two Blues have Kiama to focus on, where they’ll face Norths, Warringah and Petersham in one of four Premier Men’s divisions. 

“It’s a tough pool, particularly Warringah. They’re a very good side and a few of the Aussie 7s boys could be there as well. 

“But our guys are up to the challenge. As long as we play to our potential, then there’s nothing more to add and I know our boys will do that this weekend.”

Gordon, Penrith, Easts, Manly, Southern Districts, West Harbour and a host of Canberra clubs will also contest the Premier Men’s and Women’s divisions, while teams from all over NSW will take part in the Country divisions. 

Matches begin at 8:15am on Saturday morning at Kiama’s beautiful seaside home ground, with finals matches starting at 4:30pm.