JUST a month after over 1000 young rugby enthusiasts rolled in for the annual TAS carnival, Armidale will play host to some of the best junior players in the country.
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The New England Junior Rugby Union has been awarded the U12, U13 and U14 Country Championships.
They’ll be held in Armidale on May 23 and 24.
It’ll be the first time Armidale has hosted a Country Championships for around 10 years.
“The New England region draws players from Walcha in the south to Tenterfield in the north and all towns and cities in between, and has a proud and long history of growing many distinguished rugby players including many Wallabies,” New England juniors president John Beynon said.
He said the zone had enjoyed a strong revival in the last couple of years.
In the last couple of years the Lions sent four teams to the various Country Championships and had a number of players selected in Country sides.
“In 2015, we intend to have six representative teams, including U12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 age groups, with the three older age groups attending Country-Metro Championships elsewhere in NSW, which means more exposure of New England rugby at these events,” Beynon said.
The Country Championships are held annually and over several weekends.
“The host centre experiences economic benefits during the carnival weekend, which include increased exposure for local businesses such as hospitality, tourism and services as well as development opportunities in the area of junior sport,” Beynon said.
He said organisers were expecting some 800 players, and an estimated 2500 visitors.
Several local businesses have already come on board to provide sponsorship assistance, including rural merchandise company GrazAg, the Wicklow and New England Hotel Restaurants and Sportspower.
UNE is also offering “in kind” sponsorship in the form of their Consett Davis and Bellevue Oval playing fields for the weekend.
