THE importance of The Armidale School Rugby Carnival for identifying young talent for further development is only likely to grow, according to General Manager Rugby Development at NSW Rugby Union Adam Crane.
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Describing the carnival as a “hallmark event” on the nation’s junior rugby calendar, Crane said it was almost unique in bringing together players from clubs and schools from such a wide area and provided a rare opportunity for rugby administrators to gauge not just the depth of talent, but the pathways required to develop that talent.
This year the eleventh carnival, the largest for 11 and 12-year-olds in Australia, attracted 42 school and club teams from as far as Dalby and the Sunshine Coast to the NSW Southern Highlands.
The tents had not even been taken down before organisers met to talk about next year’s carnival.
A new initiative this year, the Spirit of Rugby Relay, proved to be a hit and is set to be repeated.
Before the last games were even played, most teams had confirmed their attendance for 2016, including several that have been at every carnival.
However carnival convener Will Caldwell said new teams were always welcome to register their interest, with Bond Pirates from Miami on the Gold Coast, Redfield College from Dural NSW and Lismore City JRUC all making their debut this year.
“There’s probably no other carnival where the Dalby Wheatmen would play the King’s School Prep from Sydney, or the Inverell Junior Highlanders get to face Tudor House school from Bowral,” he said.
“While we are happy to see the carnival grow further in size and relevance, the primary focus will remain on the way it brings together junior boy and girl rugby enthusiasts in a spirit of goodwill and camaraderie.”