The annual primary schools Rugby League carnival honouring True Blue and Dragons legend Ricky Walford will be played tomorrow (Wednesday, 14 August) in the north-western town of Walgett.
It’s the home town of Walford, who played 233 first grade games for Eastern Suburbs Roosters, North Sydney Bears and St George Dragons between 1982-1996. He was also a member of the 1990 State of Origin series-winning NSW side. He is pictured above (Photo: Daily Telegraph) with fellow True Blue Mario Fenech.
Former NSWRL First Nations development officer Steve ‘Bear’ Hall came up with the idea in 1993 of organising a school-based tournament in honour of Walgett’s favourite son.
“I don’t think anyone – least of all Ricky – thought the competition would still be going three decades on,” one of the co-ordinators Jason Horan told nswrl.com.au
“It was just a year-by-year thing at first, but its popularity and standing among everyone in north-west NSW meant it just grew and grew.
“Ricky will be there tomorrow to hand out the prizes.”
Played in a round-robin format, the seven-a-side Rugby League event brings together schools from Bourke, Brewarrina, Nyngan, Warren, Goodooga, Lightning Ridge, Coonamble, Collarenebri, Wee Waa, Tamworth, Moree, Dubbo, Boggabilla, Mungindi, Toomelah and Gosford.
The tournament has had some students represent their schools and then go on to further their Rugby League careers right up until NRL level like Jamie Lyon, Jesse Ramien and Braidon Burns.
Other NRL players, referees and officials have been guests for the day including Gavin Badger, Grant Atkins, George Rose Jnr, Paul Langmack, Adrian Morley, Paul Mellor, Benji Marshall, Geoff Carr and Ronnie Gibbs.
There are 160 students from 15 teams spread across Grades 5-6, who will play for the Ricky Walford Shield, and Grades 3-4 playing for the George Rose Snr Shield.
Rose is the father of the former Manly Warringah Sea Eagles prop, George Rose Jnr, who also played for the Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm and St George Illawarra in his 151 NRL games.
“There’s another 15 netball teams playing for the Jenny Wright Memorial Shield so all up there’ll be more than 300 kids playing sport in Walgett tomorrow,” Horan said.
The netball competition is celebrating its 25th year in 2024.
