THIS weekend a huge crowd is expected to turn out at the Quirindi Rugby Club to remember one of their own and play the game that he loved.
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In April, last year, Nick Tooth sustained a head injury playing for his beloved Quirindi Lions and never recovered, passing away soon after, although he will now forever be remembered as the second year of the Memorial Toothy’s Ten’s kicks-off on Saturday.
Founded last year and held by a group of his close mates at Quirindi, The Beasties from Eastern Suburbs took out the inaugural competition and are once again expected to come up against some tough competition as a host of his former club and team mates return amongt the 16 registered sides, while many other teams are making the trip to pay tribute and enjoy one last go around before the Summer season kicks in.
Tooth was an upstanding member of not only Easts and the Lions, but also The Shore School and Woollahra Colleagues, and has left a mark on everyone he came into contact with at these clubs.
Good mate and tournament co-founder Edward Nankivell said the rugby event is to honour one of the finest sportsman and gentlemen he ever met.
"For those who had the privilege of meeting Toothy, knew how much the sport meant to him and his love for the game,” Nankivell said.
“As a friend of his, I couldn’t think of a better way of honouring his memory than by holding a friendly rugby tournament.”
This day enables us to remember Toothy, get out on the field, have a go and support each other, just like he would have.”
Just like the first year of the tournament, which is fast becoming a feature of Country Rugby’s calendar, the second running will again be raising money towards stopping other players and their families facing similar ordeals.
All funds will go directly to research and the ongoing monitoring initiative of sports related head injuries, in conjunction with the broader rugby community and the Westpac Rescue Chopper.
There will be a silent and live auction with plenty of great prizes up for grabs including a scrum machine, a prize bull and plenty of signed jerseys.
“Toothy was an outstanding bloke and player who supported everyone on and off the field. They say that rugby is the game they play in heaven and anyone who knew Toothy takes great comfort from this,” Nankivell said.
The day will kick-off at 10am and everyone is urged to get there early for what will be a great day for a great cause to remember a great bloke.
