After a record year in terms of participation in 2024, the Boorowa Rugby Club has set a date for its booming annual pre-season Beer and Rugby Festival for 2025.
The massive day of rugby will be held on the 29th of March at the Boorowa Showground, with thousands of players and supporters expected to flock to the town for one of the biggest events on the local calendar.
Festival Organiser Andrew Corcoran said that the club expects numbers to build upon this year’s event, with the event attracting teams from across the Capital Country and beyond.
“Interest is high and we are hoping to have clubs returning from Wagga and Orange and down the coast like we did last year,” he said.
“Last year we had 30 teams come from around the state and the ACT come and participate.
“It’s just a good day.”
One quirk of the festival is its lack of a competitive structure or prizes, with Corcoran saying that deliberate decision has contributed to a positive atmosphere and good rugby played in the right spirit on the day.
“We have no finals, there’s only trophies for the boat race at the end of the day,” he said.
“It’s a good solid hit out because it means that coaches can come to a 15-a-side tournament and try a few things and you know you’re not playing for sheep stations and it’s played in good spirits and not much hassle, so it’s great.
“The referees are finding it very valuable as they can come into a non-competitive scenario and have a run around at the start of the year and practice any new rules that might have come in.
“It’s also great to get lots of people to Boorowa and have a great session at the Boorowa Hotel after it.
“Every team gets five 20-minute games and they play one, have a rest, play one so you don’t have to warm down too much, get them done and then they can have a few beers.
“It’s done like that to reduce injuries and make it a good pre-season trip as well.”
Another unique aspect of the Boorowa tournament is its full 15-a-side games, with other renowned pre-season tournaments such as the Cowra Tens and Kiama Sevens catering for smaller teams and more open rugby.
“When I was the coach of the Goldies I selfishly created it because I wanted a day that you could play 15-a-side footy,” Corcoran said.
“All those tournaments like Kiama and Cowra are all Tens and Sevens, whereas as a coach you want to practice playing 15-a-side, so I created the day so my team could have a hit-out without playing for money or trophy and could practice systems and stuff like that.
As for which direction the concept, now an annual tradition, can go, Corcoran said that future expansion of not only the tournament but the local grounds is on the cards.
“The goal is to increase the size of the field so more teams can come and it becomes a big event every year,” he said.
“The event is growing and growing and we are hoping to get that third field off the ground in the next few years so we can make the tournament even bigger.
“At the moment we are in a holding pattern due to the space of the complex.”
Finally, on the all-important topic of the festival’s theme, Corcoran confirmed there will be one again next year, but remained tight-lipped on what it is going to be.
“We will have a theme this year, but we are not exactly sure what it is just yet, so watch this space.”