While Rugby Australia have postponed all rugby union training and matches until May, due to the coronavirus, the Armidale Blues ensured they have success in 2020 after winning their annual knockout carnival.
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They held the annual event on Saturday with 12 men's and five women's teams showing up to take part but it was the hosts who were dominant from the get-go.
They beat Inverell 17-nil first up, then defeated Kempsey and Tamworth to book a place in the grand final against Walcha.
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They won that as well, posting 12 points to Walcha's nil.
Coach Luke Stephen put it down to the team's preparation.
"For six weeks the guys have been slugging it pretty hard and we have had good training numbers so that has driven competition within our training squad," he said.
"When you have got that competition within the playing squad, it means the guys that end up playing on Saturday are really doing their best to put their best foot forward.
"I couldn't be happier for how they have started the season. I thought they had a really good work ethic on the field.
"Our new players, in particular, were super impressive today in our forward pack and our usual suspects in the backs played some really exciting footy. It was good to put four decent games together and come home with the top prize."
In the women's sevens, the Barbets took home the trophy with a 24-10 win over the Armidale Blues in the decider.
