NSW Country Rugby Union

      2011 Country Championships Kick Off

The 2011 Country Championships kick off on Saturday, 19 March 2011 with the Qualifying Round of matches being played at five venues around the state.

Matches will be staged at Armidale, Quirindi, Warren, Wollongong and Woy Woy, with the results to determine the Senior and Colts semi-final pecking orders at next weekend’s Country Weekend at Lismore.

Mid North Coast’s re-entry after a two year absence will see the nine Country Zones contest the championships, which will see in excess of 450 players participate in the largest provincial championships in Australia.

Defending champions Newcastle Hunter (Caldwell Cup) and Illawarra (Colts) have been installed as favourites to again take out the respective titles, but the other zones will be keen to take home the silverware.

Following years of drought the current boom in the “Bush” has seen an influx of players returning to work on the land or in associated industries, and the local Rugby Clubs and Zones have beefed up their playing numbers.

There are some interesting match ups in this weekend’s matches, and there is a strong possibility some of the traditionally favoured zones could be upset by their opponents.

Qualifying Matches – 19 March 2011

•    Central Coast v Far North Coast – Seniors & Colts – Woy Woy
•    Central North v Central West – Colts - Quirindi
•    Illawarra v Central North (Seniors) & Mid North Coast (Colts) – Wollongong
•    New England v Newcastle Hunter – Seniors & Colts – Armidale
•    Western Plains v Central West – Seniors – Warren

Log onto the NSW Country Rugby Union’s Webpage www.nswcountryrugby.com.au to catch the full updates on the Country Championships, and also find out what’s going on in Country Rugby in 2011.

Get involved with Country Rugby by becoming a member and “Join the Muster in 2011”.