Oxley Diggers renamed Collegian Warriors

Warriors club president Mick Schmiedel said there was always a plan to take on juniors at the club's five-year mark, but with Wests Entertainment Group pulling its sponsorship it sped up the process.

“They’re not our sponsor anymore, so there is no need for them to be on our jumper,” Mr Schmiedel said.

The name ‘Warriors’ had special significance to the club, who plan to draw on the fighting spirit of its new namesake.

“A lot of people thought we would fold and not play once the sponsorship was pulled,” Mr Schmiedel.

“Next year will be our fourth year as a club and we are not going to give up. Warriors are fighters and never giving up.”

Mr Schmiedel emphasised the move was not a takeover of either club, and the team offered to take on the Collegians name and emblem, with some minor changes.

“Both clubs will keep their identity and their committee,” he said.

The name change will be made official at a meeting on Friday.

Collegians committee member Tim Milson was optimistic the partnership would give the club's 150 juniors “something to aspire to”.

“With Diggers being the new kids on the block and a club without a junior base, it made sense to talk,” Mr Milson said.

“This year was a bit of a stepping stone. We had an under-16s play under a Diggers-Collegians banner.

“Next year is looking really promising, we've got good interest for an under-13s side - traditionally we've only ever had under 6 to 12,” Mr Milson said.

Mr Schmiedel said senior players were excited to help mentor the Collegians juniors.

“This isn't the NRL, but kids still look up to first graders in bush footy,” he said.

“In the long term this will give us local juniors that will come into our first grade. It gives those juniors something to strive for and hopefully we will keep more kids in the game.”

The Warriors are also hoping to finalise a new major sponsor on Wednesday.