The South Australian Rugby community is gearing up for a festival of rugby this Saturday when the Melbourne Rising host NSW Country at AA Bailey Reserve in Adelaide.
The NRC fixture will be the showcase event of a day that also features the South Australia Junior Rugby Union grand finals in the u/12’s, u/14’s, u/16’s and u/18’s age groups.
Rugby Union South Australia CEO Carl Jones is excited to see the NRC come to town.
“It is important that all our players throughout non traditional rugby areas are exposed to the higher level of the game and see their hero play live,” said Jones.
“The other side is the interaction that the players have before and after the game with the crowd.
“The event was a huge success last year and attracted a great crowd. Young Adelaide players were queuing up to meet the likes of Quade Cooper.”
Whilst Cooper won’t be featuring in this year’s fixture, another number 10 will be creating a stir amongst the crowd.
Melbourne Rising flyhalf Michael Maloney started his journey out as a junior with the Barossa Rams Rugby Club before getting his first taste of NRC action last weekend.
With the junior grand finals preceding the NRC match, South Australia’s brightest young talent will be well placed to see Maloney and the rest of Australia’s top young talent in the flesh.
“We are very proud with the continued development of our Junior players in SA; this will be evident during the day in our various Junior Grand Finals,” said Jones.
When pressed, Jones identified a handful of local talent for the Rebel scouts to keep an eye out for.
“Players like, Carl Arnold (U16, played Rebels Junior Gold in 2018), the two Lapworth brothers Makisacc and Jervaiius (U18 and U16) and a trio of talent with the Haratsaris brothers, Constantinos, Spiridon and Dionnysios (U18, U17 and U15). “All are making great headway along with several others in the State; paving the way for a bright future for rugby in South Australia,” stated Jones.
Jones predicts the events will draw a crowd more than three thousand, as rugby fans flock to see the Melbourne Rising attempt to register their first win of their 2019 campaign.
The Melbourne Rising take on NSW Country at 4pm (Adelaide time) this Saturday at AA Bailey Reserve, Adelaide.
