In a significant shift for local Aussie Rules, the Tathra Sea Eagles and Bega Bombers football clubs have officially amalgamated to form the Bega-Tathra Kangaroos.
The Tathra Sea Eagles, established in 1983, had been a mainstay of the Sapphire Coast for 40 years, while the women’s team has been around since its competition began in 2016.
The Bega Bombers start came in 2013, when dedicated soccer player, Dale Roberts, approached Alex Nicol with the idea of forming an Aussie Rules club in Bega.
The decision to permanently amalgamate the clubs follows a successful joint season in 2024, where the two clubs competed together across multiple grades.
Club President Cymmon Parker said the merger was a logical step forward after last year’s collaboration revitalized both clubs.
“It brought people back to both clubs and encouraged new registrations and committee involvement,” Parker explained.
“It seemed like the most obvious thing to do was to move forward together, and we’re hopeful for a bright future.”
2024 wasn’t the first time the clubs had joined forces though. Back in 2016, the Bombers were struggling to field a single senior men’s side each week while Tathra football club was suffering the same decline. They were down on junior numbers and were having difficulty fielding two competitive men’s senior sides.
Amalgamation even a decade ago, seemed like an obvious solution and while the two clubs played together in 2016 they parted ways in 2017, only to rejoin in 2024 before permanently coming together in 2025.
The new name, the Bega-Tathra Kangaroos, was chosen after seeking input from the community. The Kangaroos nickname honours the late Robert “Frog” Little, a founding member of the Tathra Sea Eagles and a passionate supporter of North Melbourne Kangaroos.
Parker said it was a fitting choice, given Little’s legacy and the abundance of actual kangaroos often spotted on the Tathra oval.
“The club held a lot of importance to “Frog” and so it’s a bit special that we’ve become the Kangaroos to honour his memory.”
The Kangaroos will split their activities between Tathra’s Lawrence Park, which boasts clubrooms and lighting, and Bega’s Roy Howard Oval to maintain a presence in both communities.
“Lawrence Park will host most of our training sessions and games, but Bega is a central hub for players, so we’ll use both grounds throughout the season,” Parker said.
The club’s new logo, colours and jersey will be officially unveiled at a launch event on Sunday, February 16.
Images: Bega-Tathra Kangaroos, Cymmon Parker, AI Imagined, ARN
