History
Our History
The Vikings Junior Rugby Union Club is closely affiliated with our Vikings Premier Grade Rugby Club, affectionately known as “the seniors” however the Junior Club is a separate legal entity with its own constitution and committee.
During the year, our clubs intertwine to support each other. We are fortunate enough to have the seniors run a strong Junior Rugby Development Program in the off-season, tailored for players ranging from 14 to 18 years of age. This program is designed to facilitate a pathway for players to further develop their fitness and rugby skills with the guidance of senior coaching staff.
In 2020 a new program has been established between Vikings Rugby and Vikings Juniors for under 16 and Under 18 teams – called Generation Red (Gen-Red) – collaboration between junior and senior club – with Senior Club will assume responsibility for under 16 to under 18 age groups. With expert/ performance coaching support – and aligned to the senior professional coaches.
How it all Began
The senior rugby club, initially known as Woden Weston, was founded in 1973 and later adopted the name Tuggeranong Vikings Rugbu Union Foortball Club (TVRUFC). In 1975, Bill Stefaniak, who later became the Chief Minister of the ACT, returned from overseas and joined TVRUFC at the invitation of the first-grade coach, Algie Fredericks. After a brief period, Bill left the fledgling club but returned in 1978.
Upon returning to Canberra in late 1978, Bill re-established his connection with the TVRUFC. It came to light that the club had tried to establish a junior program in 1977, but it had not succeeded. Having previous experience with Royals Juniors and junior clubs in the Hunter Valley, Bill agreed to help set up junior teams. In early 1979, with support from notable figures like Tony Campbell of Channel 10, who advertised the new club on his TV sports show, and Col Perman, a representitive player from the ACT and Royals, they began recruiting in local schools. With assistance from George Ulilea, the head coach and the only star grade player TVRUFC had at the time, around 50 kids registered on the first registration day.
Building on that success of that first year, the club hosted an interstate junior club visit. Legend has it that the visiting teams were late arriving at the brand-new and small Erindale clubhouse. The waiting parents grew increasingly anxious, and some decided to approach Bill and three other key figures of the junior club to voice their concerns.
The spokesperson for the group of fathers, the now-legendary Charlie Shore, famously asked, “Who’s the bloody president?” In that moment, the seed for an independent Vikings Junior Club was born, as the organizing parties quickly declared that an AGM would be held at the clubhouse the following Tuesday, and they expected everyone to attend and participate in forming a committee.
From that informal meeting, the TVJRUFC was established, and its constitution was drafted. Charlie Shore became the club’s very first formal president. Under his leadership, the new club expanded throughout the 1980s, becoming the largest junior community club in the ACT and producing talented juniors who progressed to first-grade teams, the Brumbies, and even the Wallabies. In 1992, the club was officially incorporated as a community club under the ACT Incorporation Act of 1991.