The heart of country rugby was on full display in Narrabri on the weekend, as the Santos Festival of Rugby brought the NSW Waratahs men’s and women’s sides to town alongside the rising stars of the NSW Country Girls U18s team.
For the local crowd, the festival was more than just top-class rugby; it was a celebration of the players who had grown up on country fields and were now running out onto the sky blue for the Waratahs.
Narrabri locals had plenty to cheer about with Sid Harvey and Joey Fowler both returning to familiar turf. Harvey, once captain of the Country U18s, is now a regular in the Waratahs squad and a source of inspiration for aspiring juniors across the region.
Fowler, another proud Narrabri product who played for Central North before heading away to Sydney for schooling at St Joseph's College, also pulled on the Tahs jersey, a homecoming moment that resonated with the local crowd.
One of the standout performers was Mak Nelson, who this year pulled on the Country U18s jersey. Playing on the wing for the Waratahs Women’s, Nelson lit up the paddock with a hat-trick, a performance that underlined the talent flowing through the country pathways.
It was also a special weekend for the Harvey family, with Martha Harvey featuring for the Waratahs Women’s. A Narrabri local and former Country Juniors player, Martha was joined by a long list of women in sky blue who represented NSW Country rugby.
Among them were Ruby Anderson, Millie Parker, Rosie Ferguson, Emily Sheather, and Poppy Flanders all former Country Juniors who have made the leap to professional rugby.
For NSW Country Rugby, the festival highlighted the importance of strong grassroots programs and the opportunities they create.
The sight of local talent starring for the Waratahs, while inspiring the next generation through the Country U18s, was a testament to the region’s impact on the game.
Narrabri not only hosted the festival, but also showcased the beating heart of rugby in regional NSW: a community where pathways are alive, opportunities are real, and the dream of pulling on a Waratahs jersey begins on country fields.
