Bunnies field A-Grade team in Newcastle League

The Umina Bunnies Rugby League Football Club will field a senior team in the Newcastle Hunter Rugby League A-Grade this year, after having been excluded from Central Coast competition last year.

The Bunnies were a foundation club on the Central Coast before financial difficulties and a dispute with the division's committee saw the club excluded last year.

Club president Mr Shannon Sharpe said the club found a lifeline in the Newcastle Hunter League.

He said the club had more than 30 men for A-Grade and 20 women for the Ladies League to represent Umina in the Newcastle Hunter competition.

Mr Sharpe, who also coached the 2016 Umina Ladies League team that went on to win last year, said it was fantastic to see the turnaround for the Bunnies after their disappointing start in 2016.

"From being told by the committee president that Umina would never play in the Central Coast League while he was president to now having a returning champion Ladies League team, a new A-Grade team and new sponsorship opportunities is truly amazing," Mr Sharpe said.

"There's been such an outpouring of support from the community.

"I think it's safe to say the Umina Bunnies are definitely back," he added.

Mr Sharpe said that the club had been invited to return to the Central Coast League in 2018.

"It's all looking up for the Bunnies," Mr Sharpe said.

The Bunnies first match of the year pitted them against Swansea at Col Gooley Oval on April 1.

Interview 29 Mar 2017

Shannon Sharpe, Umina Bunnies

Reporter: Dilon Luke