MORE than 250 young rugby players from country zones across the State will converge on The Armidale School (TAS) this weekend for the 37th NSW Country Schools championships, one of the hallmark pathway events for junior rugby.
During its 38th year history Country Schools has hosted 37 championships, hosted several fixtures against touring international schoolboy sides, conducted 11 international development tours and boasted 14 players who have gone on to represent Australian Schools and nine who have run on for the Wallabies.
Despite this success, this weekend’s tournament will be the last, a decision taken as the result of the changing landscape of schoolboy rugby.
“NSW Country Schools was set up in 1977 specifically to address the lack of opportunity for regionally based players to gain access to NSW Schools representative teams,” said Country Schools President Matt de Dassel.
“These opportunities have improved through other pathways, and despite the ongoing success of these championships it has become unviable to continue.”
Players from New England, Central North, Far North Coast and, Mid North Coast will face each other in both the 16s and open divisions, with Central West also fielding a team in the 16s.
Players will compete for the Bernie McGrane Shield (opens) and the Don Wiburd Trophy (16s), as well as selection for the Country All Schools representative teams and a development squad that will tour Singapore and Hong Kong next April.
Games start at 9am on Saturday at TAS, with the presentation and selections announced about midday on Sunday.
On Saturday night players and coaches will watch the telecast of the Australia versus France test, which will include Wallaby debutante Sam Carter, who was last year’s special guest at the championships.
Among those playing for New England Schools will be TAS students Nicholas Finney, Ben Caskey and Hayden Shepherd.
“It’s exciting to be part of it and a shame it’s the last year. It provided a lot of opportunities for playing at a higher representative level,” said Ben Caskey.
