Along with the 11 Tamworth players – Ned Hoath, Cameron Martin, Jake Mitchell, Edmund Bourke, Joe Mitchell, Jorja Irwin, Lara Taggart, Harriet Lyden, Bianca Watson, Billie Mitchell and Mikayla Gross – representing various WPNSW (Water Polo NSW) and WPNSW country teams, there will be Tamworth coaches, managers and referees taking part in the tournament.

Tamworth Water Polo’s Gail Salter – who will referee – will be one of those representatives at the international tournament and said the festival provided pathways to all involved.

“It’s very pleasing to see so many of the Tamworth kids that have been selected in the teams, it’s a great opportunity,” Salter said

“We have a local coach, Paddy O’Brien, who’s now at university in Sydney.

“Paddy has been awarded the position of coach of one of the under 14s boys teams and that’s the start of his pathway as a representative coach.”

On the managerial front, Mark Hoath (under 14 boys) and Claire Irwin (under 16 girls country) will be in attendance.

“Not many people think of manager roles as a pathway but it’s very important,” Salter said.

“You go to the Olympics and you need a great manager.”

Salter is also keen to pick the brains of the top-flight referees but said the kids will benefit the most from the carnival.

“As country director, I’m really happy and proud that we have a number of regional kids representing NSW,” Salter said.

“We’ve had that great opportunity to put two country teams together, a boys and a girls, and it’s just another pathway for those kids who, from no fault of their own, geographically find it hard to have a year-round competition or facility where can they can play water polo.

“To be able to put those kids in a team at an international carnival in their home state is just priceless.”

The festival runs from July 2-6 and matches will be live streamed.

Head here to watch the live stream.