Defending title holders Southern Beaches will line up as favourites in Gunnedah’s booming 10s for $10,000 Rugby Carnival next Saturday (March 7).
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Now the richest pre-season tournament in NSW rugby, Gunnedah Red Devils president Stu Morrison said the showcase was likely to grow even bigger in years to come.
“It’s getting massive now,” Morrison said.
“We’ve got first grade clubs from Sydney talking about coming next year.”
Next weekend, 16 teams from across the state, half a dozen on last year, will make up four pools of four to challenge for championship rights in the 10-a-side competition.
Gone is the subsidiary minor prizes for Plate and Bowl final winners in favour of greater emphasis on the overall champions.
Up for grabs is a whopping $8000 winner’s cheque, $2000 more than last year, and a further $2000 for runners-up thanks to sponsorship from Stripes Engineering.
Much of the success Morrison attributed to the restructured prizemoney allocation which has lured more teams in search of the big bucks.
“Most of the other teams coming are top of their division too,” he said.
The Newcastle-based Beaches outfit, which clinched a 21-10 win over Gunnedah in the final of last year’s inaugural tournament, won its domestic competition last season.
Beaches will again be the side to beat at this year’s Gunnedah 10s, particularly after finishing runner-up to Sydney club heavyweights, Easts, in a recent Sydney 7s tournament.
Joining them in Gunnedah will be Illawarra outfit, Engadine Lions and five Central North club sides including Pirates, Magpies, Inverell, Moree and 2014 premiers Narrabri.
Also on the books among others are western division sides Walgett, Coonamble and two teams from the Dubbo Rhinos.
At this stage, Gunnedah plans to enter two teams – a first division squad and a second-string Barbarians side which will combine a mix of Gunnedah and associate players.
The Red Devils expect to host about 250 players throughout the carnival.
They’re also accommodating at least seven teams at the rugby club grounds later that evening to party the night away with live entertainment.
“It’s going to be great for the community and great for the club,” Morrison said of the rugby influx.
This year the Devils recruited four members to the newly created 10s tournament committee which has worked tirelessly to see the ensure to the event’s continued prosperity.
“Weeks and weeks of planning goes into it,” he said.
The club’s annual season launch and jersey auction held in late February was another warming success and the perfect prelude to the Red Devils’ assault on the 10s carnival next weekend.
Gates open 11am at Gunnedah’s Rugby Park.