More than 420 of New South Wales’ best rugby union players, their families and other supporters will arrive at Mudgee today.
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Tomorrow the NRMA NSW Country Rugby Union senior and colts championships begin at Glen Willow Regional Sporting Complex from 9am and continue well into Sunday afternoon.
“The Grassroots has attracted people like Robbie Deans and that has sort of opened up Mudgee to a lot of new people."
The event is another addition to what is now becoming a great list of major sporting spectacles to be held at the Mudgee venue.
Earlier this month NSW Country Rugby Union executive officer, Terry Woodward, said he was looking forward to coming to Mudgee because “it is one of the best venues we have ever had to host the championships”.
When Mudgee was declared hosts of the championships Mudgee Wombats president, Greg Bartrim, said the events such as the Grassroots Festival, stepping up to Blowes and hosting the NSW under-12s, 13s and 18s rugby championships in 2012 aided to the cause.
“All that sort of work has paved the way for the [senior] country champs,” he said.
“The Grassroots has attracted people like Robbie Deans and that has sort of opened up Mudgee to a lot of new people.
“We want to continue building more relationships and hopefully attract more rugby events in the future.”
Realising the economic benefit of hosting the championships, Mid-Western Regional Council agreed to donate $10,000 to Mudgee Rugby Club to support its tender in 2013. Bartrim and the club were grateful for Council’s assistance as it was vital to Mudgee’s cause.
