Students at St Matthews Catholic School had a special visitor on Wednesday with NSW Waratahs mascot Tah Man signing autographs, posing for photographs and answering questions.
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However, it was the item that the Waratahs’ number one fan had accompanying him that had all the students, including staff, excited.
Tah Man had with him the Super Rugby trophy.
Standing at 65 centimetres tall and weighing 18 kilograms, the Super Rugby trophy is the crown in the Waratahs’ trophy cabinet.
The NSW team won their first Super Rugby title on August 2 when a final minute penalty goal by Waratahs’ fly-half Bernard Foley secured a 33-32 win over the Crusaders from New Zealand in front of 61,823 fans at ANZ Stadium.
Since then, the trophy has been in hot demand with every rugby pundit in the state trying to get a glimpse of the prized trophy.
“They were able to get autographs, photos and asked questions.”
NSW Rugby decided to take the trophy on a tour of regional NSW and accompanied by the best security in town – Tah Man.
The tour has stopped at more than 40 venues including community groups and schools.
This week alone the trophy and Tah Man have visited places in Taree, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Tamworth and Narrabri.
On Wednesday its first stop was at St Matthews Catholic School where it was greeted by a large group of adoring fans.
Teacher Ross McKeown said the students and staff were excited to see the trophy and Tah Man.
“Everyone was on a high,” McKeown said.
“It was a great response. The kids just flocked Tah Man and were able to get up close to the trophy.
“They were able to get autographs, photos and asked questions.”
There was even a competition to see who could lift the trophy.
Students from Kindergarten to Year Six and three secondary school classes attended the event.
The tour left Mudgee and went to Dubbo and Parkes, before travelling to Cowra and Bowral yesterday. They travel to Nowra, Kiama, Wollongong and Sydney today.
