The Marist Brothers Rams have announced that Will Bugden will be the new First Grade Coach for the 2022 NRRRL Season.

Will returned to Marist Brothers for the 2021 season as the club trainer and assisted with a very successful season with First Grade. He is now stepping up into the bigger role as Coach of the First Grade team for the 2022 season.

Bugden takes over from Mark Sivewright who took the team to a semi finals campaign this season and a Grand Final in 2020.

Will joined Marist Brothers in Under 9's and climbed the ranks through the senior grades to First Grade.

In this period of time, Will collected the NRRRL Player of the Year and Team of the Year accolades and was also selected in the Under 18's Country side.

He was then signed by the Parramatta Eels Under 20's side, spending two years with them and an additional two years with the Parramatta Eels grade sides.

Bugden then moved to the Tweed Head Seagulls for two years before heading north and spending five years with the North Queensland Cowboys and the Northern Pride, where he wrapped up another mountain of awards including the Players’ Player, Player of the Year, Forward of the Year, Clubman of the Year and Sponsors Player of the Year.

Will was forced into retirement due to concussion and has returned to the Northern Rivers to study Sport and Exercise Science at Southern Cross University and is working currently at Stepz Gym as a personal trainer.

With 140 Queensland Cup games, Queensland Resident and three NRL trial games under his belt, Bugden certainly has the qualifications for the role.

The Rams recently held their AGM with the newly elected office bearers and committee for 2022 being:

President: Paul O’Neill Sr

Vice President: Jason Flanagan

Secretary: Julie Perren

Treasurer: Keven Gava

General Committee: Alyssa Goode, Tony Gava, Al Petty, Annie Petty, Scott Gibson, Nigel Marshall, Anthony Butler, Bailey Flanagan, Natasha Flanagan, Karen Flanagan, Ash Watt

The Marist Brothers 2021 Presentation Day will be held on Sunday 5th December at the Rous Hotel.