Australia’s biggest junior Rugby League event of the year will see more than 3500 children from 200 schools descend on the game’s heartland of western Sydney next week for the 66th NSWRL Integral Energy All Schools Carnival.
The NSWRL Integral Energy All Schools Carnival brings together the school junior league community from across the state for three days of competition starting Monday 2 August to Wednesday 4 August.
Teams have travelled from as far as Dubbo, Tamworth, the Tweed Coast and Bomaderry, accompanied by more than 200 volunteers, referees, first aid officers and ground managers.
The event’s enormous scale will see the NSWRL make use of five separate western Sydney playing fields, with St Mary’s eight-field Whalan Reserve the hub of activity.
“This year will be our biggest yet because we have had another 10% increase in entries,” NSWRL Coaching and Development Manager Mr. Martin Meredith said.
“To enter the carnival, schools must progress through their District or Group carnivals and next week they will have a chance to become State Champions.
“This year we also have the first ever division for girls in the under 16’s which a real positive.”
Easily the biggest day of the Carnival, Monday will see 120 primary schools and more than 1800 children represent their districts from all over NSW including the North Coast, CRL Group 1, Mid North Coast, Newcastle, Central Coast, North West, Sydney Metro, Western Division, Illawarra and the South Coast regions.
On Wednesday over 70 secondary schools will take to the fields with more than 1400 children expected to take part, before Wednesday features eight ‘elite’ schools such as Endeavour and Illawarra Sports High.
NSWRL General Manager Geoff Carr said the NSWRL Integral Energy All Schools Carnival is an example of the high participation numbers Rugby League currently has in schools around the state.
“There are literally thousands of kids getting ready to take part in the All Schools Carnival and it’s fitting we are able to host it in a region which is at the forefront of our strong growth at the junior level,” Carr said.
“Just bringing in the amount of volunteers we have is a monumental task and their commitment and passion for the grass roots is one of the reasons we have achieved this growth.
“It’s also great to see that the NSW Education Department and the Catholic school system has shown its continued support for Rugby League by participating in our biggest event on the school calendar.
“We’ve got record numbers entering this year so all indicators point towards it being the biggest Carnival we’ve ever staged.”
The NSWRL Integral Energy All Schools Carnival is run with the support of the Integral Energy, Blacktown City Council, ARL Development and the NSWRL.
Support from western Sydney junior league clubs such as St Mary’s JRLFC, Rooty Hill JRLFC, Brothers JRLFC, Mount Druitt Colyton JRLFC as well as the army of volunteers is integral to its success.
WHAT: 66th NSWRL Integral Energy All Schools Carnival
WHEN: Monday 2 August to Wednesday 4 August, 2010
WHERE: Whalan Reserve (Debrisket Ave, St Mary’s)
Hickey’s Park, (Coombes Drive, Penrith)
The Kingsway (The Kingsway, Werrington)
CEC Blinkhorn Reserve (Great Western Highway, Colyton)
St Mary’s League’s Stadium (Cnr Forrester & Boronia Rd, St Mary’s) – FINALS VENUE with games played from 3.30pm onwards.
TIME: Matches from 9am
