THE first division grand final between two Sydney club teams was a reprise of last year, but it was the Moree Junior Bulls who took out the most prestigious award at the largest under 12s rugby carnival in Australia last weekend.
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The Junior Bulls won the ZOO Team of the TAS Rugby Carnival Award for sportsmanship on and off the field as voted upon by all teams – an award they received at the very first carnival in 2005.
The two-day carnival, which attracted 45 teams from as far as Dalby and the Sunshine Coast to the NSW Southern Highlands, wrapped up with the spoils shared between club and school teams.
A total of 114 games of rugby were completed.
As was the case last year, in the Division 1 & 2 grand final, Southern Districts defeated Gordon Highlanders 28-17.
St Ignatius’ College Riverview Blue defeated Cranbrook School in the third division whilst the The King’s School came out over Central Coast Grammar School in Division 4 and Gordon Tartans took out Division 5 over Scone Grammar School.
The previous afternoon, former Wallaby Warwick Waugh – attending his third tournament as a father – and NSW Waratah Matt Sandell entertained participants, signed paraphernalia and shared some wisdom from their experiences.
“This carnival is the DNA of rugby – when senior rugby is so fractious, there is no more important time to have grassroots opportunities such as this,” Waugh said.
He urged participants to take develop passion and pride in the sport.
“When I ran on for Australia, I was running on for Gulargambone, The Scots College, Randwick, New South Wales, and every team I had ever pulled the boots on for - as well as my mates who were not lucky enough to be able to run on with me,” Waugh said. “I’m sure there are a few future Wallabies here today and I want you to remember that tournaments such as this, grassroots rugby, is what it is all about.
“And you also have to enjoy everything the game brings you. You’ve got to love the good times when you score the tries, and you’ve got to love and suck up the times when you get smashed - that’s what developing passion for your sport is all about.”
Carnival convenor and director of co-curricular Will Caldwell said the event continues to grow in stature with every passing year.
“It’s been an amazing weekend for rugby and been very exciting for us to be able to bring together so many people from near and far to come together and celebrate what is best about the sport,” Caldwell said.
“Warwick and Matt really inspired the players with their reflections and it was a privilege to be part of such an event.”
