Rugby League continues to surge in popularity in North East Victoria after the entry of a Shepparton-based outfit to the Goulburn Murray Premiership for the 2024 season was confirmed this month.

The Shepparton Eagles will be one of eight teams to compete in the premier rugby league competition in regional Victoria in 2024, ending the 16 year absence of rugby league in the district which began after the Shepparton Warriors folded in 2008.

Shepparton Eagles Committee Member Deborah Fili said that the local rugby league community is “excited” ahead of the club’s debut in just over two months’ time.

“Everyone was just waiting to see when it was going to start back up, and that was one of the reasons why we did, because we had so many numbers that wanted to get involved, but I think it was just waiting for someone to start it up,” she said.

“So we’ll definitely have men’s and women’s, we had good numbers for our pre-season.”

Fili believes that the game is set to thrive in the area, with the response of the community to the club’s formation highlighting the growing interest in rugby league in country Victoria. 

“I know that Rugby Sevens are going around and [that is] so similar to league as well, [so we knew] if someone was to start it up, they’d definitely get numbers,” she said.

“We’ve only just started to get into it last season, but I think it just needs more promotion, because you don’t really hear about all the other [clubs] in the regions.”

As for the club’s goals in their inaugural season Fili said that the year will be more about learning the game and trying to compete in what is an increasingly tough competition.

“That’s not our main goal at the moment, it will be a learning curve for us this season, everyone’s coming from different codes,” she said.

“Our main focus at the moment is just building a bond with each other and learning the fundamentals of the game.

“If we win a premiership, that will be great, but that’s not our main goal at the moment.”

As for where the club is drawing its players from, Fili said that both squads come from a variety of sporting backgrounds.

“So for the Men’s, most of them come from Rugby Union, and then we’ve got some AFL [players] coming across as well, they want to learn the sport,” she said,

“For the Women, they come from Netball, and also AFL as well.

“We’ve definitely got the numbers for this season, which is great, so [we’re] just looking forward to it, to see what the season will bring.”

The club is based at Mooroopna’s Pee Wee Oval, around 10 minutes’ drive from the Shepparton city centre.

The Goulburn Murray Premiership season kicks off in April, with eight clubs set to contest the competition across two grades after the addition of the Border Bears and the return of Tumbarumba.

(Cover Photo: Shepparton Eagles Instagram)