A record 20 teams will battle it out at the home of Eastern Suburbs Rugby - Woollahra Oval - on Saturday in memory of former Quirindi Lion and Beastie Nick Tooth.
The fourth annual Nick Tooth Memorial Rugby Tens Tournament, colloquially known as the “Toothy Tens”, has drawn teams and players from as far afield as Geelong and even New Zealand.
The region will be well represented with Quirindi, St Alberts and Robb all fielding teams while the Walcha Maggot Taxis will make their first appearance.
Quirindi has hosted the tournament the last two years after the inaugural event was held in Harden.
“Easts was where Nick played colts so we’re following his rugby journey,” Tooth’s sister Alexandra said.
Tooth, who passed away after sustaining a head injury playing for his beloved Lions in 2015, made his debut for the club in 2009 and became one of their most valued clubmen.
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The tournament is the major annual fundraising event for the Nick Tooth Foundation, which was established in 2016 ‘to raise awareness around player safety and wellbeing, assist in the prevention of brain-related injury and promote the positive spirit of rugby union’.
Alexandra said they’ve sold around 1000 tickets already and is anticipating more on the day.
“It’s going to be a big day,” she said.
