CSU Football Club won't contest Western Premier League in 2022

CSU Red finished the Bathurst District Football men's premier league competition undefeated from 12 games, before the competition was abandon due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

CSU Red was later awarded the minor premiership, however, no major premierships were awarded.

While the club contemplated the possibility of playing in the WPL, newly elected president James Worthington said it would be too challenging considering the constant turnover in players at the university.

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"It was definitely something we thought of doing but at the end of the day, WPL is a big commitment," he said.

"I think it needs to be a three-year deal and as a university club, we just can't handle the turnover of players.

"We can't risk it because year-by-year, we can't judge how many players we are going to lose and how many we are going it get."

While the club won't participate in the WPL in 2022, Worthington said it's something that the club hasn't completely ruled out in the future.

For now, the senior men's side will look towards claiming the premiership in 2022, which it missed out on contesting for in 2021.

"We had great success over the last year and it feels like we have a bit of unfinished business in that first grade men's comp," he said.

"It would be wonderful if we could get many of the same boys back next year and see how they push on."

The WPL is expected to feature 10 teams for the 2022 season, with Orange CYMS announcing its intention back in July to join the competition from next season.

It's a rapid rise in numbers for the revived competition, which returned back in 2020 with seven teams, before the addition of Mudgee and Orange Waratahs for 2021.

Currently, Panorama is the only Bathurst-based team, however, Lithgow Workmen's and Mudgee come under Bathurst District Football.

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