One of the largest Rugby League gatherings in the country takes place this Saturday (3 August) at the Laurie Daley Oval in Junee.
In fact the annual Riverina Schoolboys Carnival is so big, that it employs Burns Park, Junee Showground and Loftus Oval, which are all adjacent to Laurie Daley Oval named after the True Blue and former NSW Origin coach and captain.
This year 145 teams from Under 6s through to Under 15s - bringing together more than 1,880 players - will be taking part.
They come from clubs as far north as Cowra, west to Griffith, south to Albury and east to Queanbeyan, and represent Groups 8, 9, 10, 11 and 20.
The carnival is steeped in history being played for the first time in 1943.
Due to a few cancellations over the years from severe weather, or the COVID pandemic, this will be the 79th edition of the carnival.
“It’s such a marvellous tradition – held the first Saturday in August each year,” NSWRL Zone Manager David Skinner said.
“It would be the most significant football memory for any school kid in the Riverina area – starting with Laurie Daley and a host of other NRL stars just like him.”
Development teams get a participation certificate and the older age groups receive a pennant – much prized by schoolboys in country NSW.
“You’d find a few of those pennants still on players walls to this day I’m sure,” Skinner said.
