AN exciting game between two Queensland school teams wrapped up The Armidale School Rugby Carnival on Sunday, with The Southport School defeating Sunshine Coast Grammar 14-7.
The first division grand final game was the culmination of two days of exciting rugby for 1000 boys and girls from 49 teams who had travelled from as far as the Sunshine Coast and the NSW Southern Highlands.
Two Brisbane school teams faced each other in the second division final, with St Laurence’s College defeating Nudgee Junior College.
In third division, Tudor House Preparatory School from Moss Vale went down to St Aloysius College from Sydney, but Tudor House was more than compensated by taking out the main award of the day, the BLK Team of the Carnival, which recognised good spirit and sportsmanship on and off the field.
The autumn colour of New England and sunny and mild conditions provided a perfect backdrop for the event, which is the biggest under-13 rugby carnival in Australia.
At Saturday’s official opening, Australian Rugby Union boss Bill Pulver held up a signed Wallabies jersey he presented to TAS and urged the 1000 young players to “dare to dream”.
“With players from such a wide area and from some great clubs and schools, I’m quite sure some of you here will one day play for Australia,” he said.
“When you wear a Wallabies jersey it will change your life.”
The Tamworth-born executive said the inaugural Junior Gold Cup competition had been an outstanding success in providing a pathway for the game across Australia.
Pulver praised carnival organisers for the smooth running of the carnival and the “magnificent” state of the playing fields.
“You have thanked the ARU, but really it’s the ARU that should be thanking you for staging this magnificent carnival that showcases everything good about our game,” he said.
