Wellington’s Junior Redbacks Rugby Union team have returned from a weekend of fun, fundraising and excitement in Sydney’s Northern Beaches following their invitation to the ‘Bush 2 Beach’ Rugby Union Gala Weekend.
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The event, which was organised and spearheaded by Lisa Clark of the Narrabeen Tigers with the help and support of the Warringah Rugby Club, was aimed at helping fundraise to provide overhead and administration costs for Rugby Union teams in drought hit areas.
Teams from Wellington, Dubbo, Narromine, Coonabarabran, Bourke and Walcha were all invited to participate across the weekend, which involved exhibition games, good food and coaching from visiting players like Cam Clark.
Clark announced his re-signing to the 2019 Waratahs side at the event, while talking about the community of NSW Rugby Union.
We were really just amazed by the support from everyone that was able to make it. It looks like we made well over $15,000 on the day.
- Lisa Clark
The rural teams were hosted by Northern Sydney home teams Newport, Narrabeen, Dee Why, Collaroy and Pittwater at the Narrabeen Academy of Sport.
The event was kicked off with an evening BBQ on Friday at the Academy, where the visiting teams were greeted by players from the home teams before being welcomed by organiser Lisa Clark and then spoken to by a youth ambassador from ‘RUOK’.
Former Waratahs flanker Phil Waugh was also on hand, along with Wallaby’s rookie Jack Maddocks and the Warringah Women’s team, to provide coaching and skill drills for the children.
Narrabeen Tigers Committee member Lisa Clark was filled with praise for the players that came along to help the kids out.
“We were really lucky, the guys that came down were phenomenal, they stayed longer than they were allocated to. One of our boys got an injured angle and Jack Maddocks stayed with him the whole time. They all stepped in to fulfill guest coaching roles and they were there the whole day.”
The total funds raised by the event for the visiting teams blew past the Northern Sydney expectations.
“We were really just amazed by the support from everyone that was able to make it. It looks like we made well over $15,000 on the day,” Mrs Clark said.
“We’re pretty amazed by that, we were aiming for ten.”
Extra funds raised will go to the visiting club’s equipment costs across 2019.
