QUIRINDI has joined Tamworth in Wallabies hometown pride – and northern zone rugby fans are puffing out their chests at the historic double for rugby union fame this weekend.
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The latest local to pull on the Wallabies jersey is former Quirindi kid and Brumbies lock Sam Carter who was named this week in the starting lineup for the rugby union Test against France in Brisbane on Saturday.
On the reserve bench is Paddy Ryan, the former Tamworth Pirates junior who has already won the green and gold for Australia a couple of times and is on standby for Saturday.
Yesterday in Quirindi one of the proudest locals around town was Wallaby mum Sue Carter.
She’s a double Wallaby woman – mum to Sam and wife to Dave, who first played for the Wallabies when son Sam was just three weeks old.
Now aged 24, it’s Sam’s turn to give the French a run for their money.
His parents (and greatest supporters) and girlfriend Maddie Bird will be cheering him on from the grandstand on Saturday.
When The Leader spoke to Sue at work yesterday, she was still coming to terms with the excitement of the unique situation.
“It’s quite special to have your husband play for the Wallabies, but this is Sam. He’s our son,” she said.
“He’s toughed it out, had shoulder reconstructions, knee injuries and he got to go to the Brumbies, now the Wallabies – it’s the icing on the cake. We’re very proud of Sammy.”
Carter junior began his sporting career there playing soccer until the age of eight, when he switched to junior rugby.
