GREATER Northern Under 16 and 18 rugby league sides face something of an unknown challenge in Armidale on Saturday when they play the East Coast Dolphins in first round Country Championship matches.
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The Dolphins are a new “divisional” side Greater Northern regional manager Scott Bone said.
“They are the old Northern Rivers and North Coast divisions.
“Kevin Hill (former Narrabri and Northern Division player) is their regional manager.
“They should be pretty strong too,” Bone told The Leader.
The Dolphins tackle the Greater Northern Tigers in Armidale this Saturday but not at Rugby League Park.
“We’re playing at Bellevue Oval out at the uni,” he said.
“They (UNE Sport) are sponsoring us for the day. Usually it’s $1800 to hire Bellevue, but they’ve waived that as part of the sponsorship.
“They are now in partnership with NSW Rugby League and we are hoping to utilise that new arrangement to work in with some of their programs as well.
“Hopefully we can use their sports science programs to benefit our kids.
“We are looking to the future with not only our rep sides but the Greater Northern Academy as well.”
This Saturday’s first round Country Championship games kick off at noon with the Under 16 match, and at 1.30pm for the Under 18s on a weekend where eight regions line up in Armidale, Berkeley Vale, West Wyalong and Bateman’s Bay.
NSW Country Rugby League’s Adam Kidd said the best young players from across NSW are set to battle it out to for the title of AAMI Country Champions.
“Eight regions will feature in the Championships with Central Coast, Newcastle, Western Rams, Bidgee Bulls, Greater Southern Stingrays, Greater Southern Redbacks, Greater Northern Tigers and the East Coast Dolphins being represented in both age divisions (Under 16 and 18) across the five -eek competition that takes place in 13 regional towns throughout NSW,” he said.
“The U16 and U18s Grand Finals will be played as curtain raisers to this year’s AAMI Country v City Origin clash at Scully Park Regional Sporting Precinct, Tamworth on Sunday, May 8.
“Country Rugby League selectors will be at each match with players to be selected for the Country U16/18 representative teams which will tour Perth (U18s) and Samoa (U16s) later in the year.”
