Primary school Rugby players across all parts of NSW are being presented with the opportunity of a lifetime, as they look to secure their spot in the curtain raiser for the final Test of the Castrol EDGE Wales Tour at Allianz Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
Over the course of the past four months, ARU Community Rugby development staff have implemented and managed local Primary Schools Rugby Sevens tournaments for year 5 and 6 students across NSW with over 222 schools and 2,628 kids participating.
Ten school sides, which won their regional finals, will contest the State Final at the Academy of Sport at Narrabeen on Friday 22 June and the morning of Saturday 23 June.
Teams will be placed into two pools of five teams and will play each school once. At the completion of the round matches two divisions will be formed.
Teams finishing first and second in their respective pools will play in the Cup division. Teams finishing third and fourth in their respective pools will play in the Plate division.
The winners of the semi-final from both divisions will then get a chance to showcase their skills as they contest the championship matches in front of a capacity crowd in the build-up to the Qantas Wallabies v Wales third and final Test at Allianz Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
ARU Community Rugby General Manager Ian Alker said the increased interest and participation in Rugby Sevens had been pleasing to see.
“This tournament has introduced the game of Rugby Sevens to many schools for the first time,” Mr Alker said.
“It’s great to be able to continue to grow Rugby Sevens, as Australian Rugby builds towards several exciting events in the near future, including the Youth Olympics, the Rugby World Cup Sevens, the Commonwealth Games and of course the 2016 Olympics.
“Teachers and coaches from schools all across NSW have really encouraged and developed the kids’ skills to provide an exciting brand of Rugby that will hopefully culminate in an exciting final.
“The opportunity to participate in Rugby Sevens, for both males and females in the 2016 Olympic Games is a huge draw card to many young aspiring Rugby players.”
The schools competing to contest the State Final are:
- Central Coast – Green Point Christian College
- Illawarra – Tudor House
- Western Region – Kinross Wolaroi Prep school
- Newcastle – Edgeworth Public School
- Mid North Coast – St Joseph’s Kempsey
- Far North Coast – St Carthage’s Lismore
- Central North – St Xavier’s Gunnedah
- Sydney West – John Warby Primary school
- Sydney North – St Aloysius college
- Sydney South – Mascot Public School