The significance of the Santos Festival of Rugby in Roma resonates on many levels. The hunger of regional Australians to still get up close to big sport is definitely one.
The sports world has changed dramatically in this regard. It struck me afresh in Roma last weekend when playfully niggled that I must have enjoyed being on the set of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang when the movie was filmed. In 1968.
Just what was big regional sport like in those days?
When the All Blacks toured in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s, they were still playing Queensland B and Queensland Country in regional hubs like Toowoomba, Townsville, Cairns and the Gold Coast.
When World Series Cricket was shaking up the game in the 1970s, you had cricket greats like Viv Richards and Michael Holding breezing through Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone and Toowoomba. The charismatic West Indians would hit town with their gold bling and swashbuckling style to play a Cavaliers XI with the indomitable Dougie Walters and co aboard.
There were memories for life in a single autograph, chat over a beer or the local butcher-cum-paceman getting a Test batsman out.
They were brilliant occasions.
In the modern rush that is professional sport, national teams now just hit the big cities for Tests. It’s in and out.
That’s why the unique welcome and warmth of Roma and Narrabri have added something special to the calendar with the Santos Festival of Rugby.
Roma Echidnas President Tom Sayer is a passionate advocate.
He played for Brothers in Brisbane but now coaches the Echidnas and was still lacing on the boots as their 36-year-old hooker in a grand final last month.
“The impact of a weekend like this is actually immeasurable with the Queensland Reds and the NSW Waratahs coming to town,” Sayer said.
“It draws the community together. It’s very dry here at the moment. It gets people out and their minds on other things.
“Santos have been instrumental in bringing this altogether, three festivals now in Roma and three times in Narrabri.”
The long-term commitment to have a Festival of Rugby in Roma has spurred other positive spin-offs.
“We were lucky enough to secure a Government grant to put this new paddock together because it wasn’t up to scratch two years ago. Our field is now top class. We are also getting new change rooms,” Sayer said.
“That wouldn’t be a conversation without the fact we host the Festival of Rugby.”
Groundsman Nick Cook and his volunteers, the QRU's grounds staff and Twin View Turf can take a bow for the field.
Sayer is a stayer. He managed to fit two weddings and a full Festival into his weekend. The only problem was it meant his suit and pocket handkerchief definitely made him overdressed when enjoying a sip by the rollicking Club Hotel dance floor after the rugby.
The Friday night street party on McDowall Street kicked things off with a fun vibe.
It’s a surprise the Reds women’s had the energy for their 41-12 romp over the Waratahs on Saturday afternoon such was the dancing energy some put in when the live band found their sweet spot at the street party.
On Saturday, the field was awash with kids, boys and girls, for a junior clinic when Vintage Reds like Chris Latham, Aidan Toua, Mike Harris, Leroy Houston and Rod Davies guided them in drills, skills and a game of touch.
That’s the inspiration of these events as Reds women’s skipper Tiarna Molloy said so well. She is an Inverell product so knows what big sport in the country means.
“We love coming to the country areas, especially to show young girls what’s possible,” Molloy said.
The Vintage Reds lapped up their 20-minute game against the Echidnas.
When coach Sean Hardman outlined that the rules of engagement meant no wild cleanouts just a friendly non-contest at every ruck, Davies pipped up in the pre-match huddle.
“No problem. That’s the way I always played,” Davies said with a laugh.
Reds and Wallabies great Latham played the full 20 minutes. He lapped it up, in part because it finally balanced the ledger after his frustration at being forced to withdraw with a hamstring injury when a wildcard player for the 2016 Brisbane Global Tens tournament.
"The jersey means a lot to me as I'm sure it does for everyone. To get the honour to pull it back on and play with so many who have contributed to its legacy is a privilege," said Latham, now 51 and a title-winning winning Head Coach with the Chicago Hounds in the US.
Across the three editions of the Santos Festival of Rugby, 24 current or future Wallabies have played in Reds teams. That’s before counting the likes of Angus Bell and co from the Waratahs.
“The Santos Festival of Rugby is one of the best regional sporting events in Australia involving professional teams,” Queensland Rugby Union Chief Executive David Hanham said.
“There’ll be $2 million of economic activity for Roma from this week alone.
“The field now has the best playing surface west of Ipswich.”
That’s something that groundsman Cook can take great pride in.
That and his clean pilfer in the Vintage Reds game which produced a rare try. He’ll still be talking about that one in two years when the Festival of Rugby returns to Roma.
