RUGBY UNION
Two new teams will grace the turf at Mudgee's Glen Willow for the three-day Mudgee Grassroots Rugby Festival beginning on March 30.
The Australian Barbarians will take on an Australian Police XV as the showpiece event for the festival.
It's the first time either team will be taking part in the rugby event; the last two years the Silver Foxes have played an Invitational XV.
The Australian Barbarians are an invitation rugby team in the tradition of the famous UK Barbarian club, which is well known for its star line-ups and outings against international opposition.
The Australian Barbarians have a proud history of giving opportunities to young up-and-coming stars and teaming them with veteran greats, to take on opposition teams at international, provincial and representative levels.
At this year's Grassroots event, the Barbarians continue their tradition by naming several former internationals to play in the exhibition game.
Players to run out for the "Baa Baas" are former Mudgee boy and ACT Brumbies centre Joel Wilson, World Cup winner Richard Harry, former Reds and Wallabies' captain David Croft, All Blacks and Canterbury back rower Scott Robertson, USA World Cup flyhalf Mike Hercus, and Wallabies and Balmain centre James Grant who will be paired with Canberra Raiders rugby league great Brad Clyde.
The team will be encouraged by their honorary coaches, Michael Doyle and Wallabies' coach Robbie Deans.
For the Police XV, Mudgee Wombats' Dusty Elsom will lead the boys in blue.
Grassroots coordinator Mark Dalton was excited to have the two new teams make their debut at the festival.
"It's going to be great to have them play," Dalton said.
"The game is going to be more competitive. It will be a hard, fast game; an open game of rugby.
"The Baa Baas are well known in rugby circles. Not only will they have former Wallabies and All Blacks players but a host of younger players who are on the verge of Super Rugby contracts."
Now in its third year, the Mudgee Grassroots Rugby Festival has quickly become one of the must see rugby events.
It has generated a huge following with the players, the officials and the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).
"The ARU have been very helpful for us," Dalton said.
"They have got fully behind us. They have put their faith in us by giving us the Baa Baas.
"It has been easier to organise this year because people know about it.
"We have got Central West teams coming over and trialling, teams from Sydney. The feedback has been great from the clubs."
The festival will kick-off on Friday, March 30, with the Joel Wilson Shield.
It will incorporate the Mudgee district zone of the ARU schools 7-a-side championships for years 3-4 and years 5-6.
The top two teams in each division will progress to the next stage of the championships.
Saturday will see coaching clinics with Deans and the main game in the afternoon before the Grassroots Festival dinner later in the night.
It will conclude with trial matches on Sunday.
The previous festival editions have been shared between Glen Willow and Jubilee Oval, but this year, the entire event will be held at the region's multi-million dollar sporting mecca.
"Glen Willow is magnificent. It's a state of the art facility. Mudgee is really lucky to have a facility like it because we would be the only place that would be able to hold something like this," Dalton said.
To get involved with the festival contact the secretary at secretary@grassrootsrugbyfestival .com.au
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