Young’s Under 17s Yabbies have been busy building friendships, connections and life experiences with their southern footy counterparts of late, having returned from an end-of-season tour of Tasmania.
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On September 25, 22 players and seven dads flew out of Canberra and landed in Launceston for a week of various activities, training and anticipated matches against Tasmania’s state rugby union side.
It’s something organiser Paul Everdell said the Tasmanian team had been keen to start doing and hosting the local players.
“The aim [of the trip] was to keep [the boys] together during the off-season and to reward them for their efforts [during the previous season],” he said.
“It was about the life experience... and creating connections.
“The Tasmanian team are trying to develop rugby union and are very forthcoming with assisting us with games.”
When the squad arrived in Launceston, they collected four eight seater vans and headed off to a caravan park to settle in.
By that afternoon, they were already making use of Launceston Rugby Club’s facilities and hospitality with a training session and a few games of pool.
On Friday, September 26, the crew were off to the Treetops Experience, which was a collection of platforms and flying foxes set high in the canopy of a native forest.
Following another training session later in the afternoon, the Under 17s players had a chance to meet their opposition and share a few more games of pool.
Saturday was game day, against the Tasmanian Under 17s.
“Tasmania had a huge side with 340kgs in their front row,” Everdell said.
“The Young Yabbies were a little intimidated by their size at first but soon got on with the job running out winners 22-5.
“Everyone contributed well.”
Though the team did experience a misfortune or two with Connor McGregor breaking his collarbone and Jono Davis upsetting a previous wrist injury and unable play any further on tour.
On Sunday, the local team left for Devonport and game two which saw the welcome return of Brent Shoard, who helped the Yabbies triumph again, 29-5.
Nic Schiller scored three tries and a corked thigh saw Cameron Livolsi leave the field.
“Two games, two wins and time for a rest” Everdell said of Monday’s ‘R and R’.
“All the boys were asking for a sleep in.”
So they all had a look around Devonport at their leisure.
They visited Beaconsfield mine and museum on the Tuesday and then caught the Spirit of Tasmania back across the Bass Strait to Melbourne, arriving early Wednesday morning.
They explored the city on the Wednesday, which wasn’t complete without a bit of laser tag and bowling, and a tour of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Tuesday, October 2 the local lads hopped aboard the train back to Harden, arriving home around 3.30pm.
“Everyone was totally exhausted,” Everdell said.
He said they wanted to expose the boys to all forms of transport during the tour - planes, trains and ferries.
“A lot of them had never flown before, or caught a ferry.”
Everdell said he hoped to make the tour an annual occasion, adding that there were big benefits involved.
“There are two boys from Tasmania coming to play for us [in reserve grade] after Christmas,” he said.
“They’ll be 18 by then, they’ll be old enough to play in the seniors, so we’ll be looking at finding them jobs.
“And we’re hoping to send some of our boys down there.”
The Young Yabbies would like to thank everyone who contributed to their fundraising efforts, either with raffle prizes or donations.
“The tour was a great success,” Everdell said.
The raffle was drawn on presentation night with locals claiming $1000 in prizes.
The Young Rugby Club will be hosting various activities for the Under 17s over summer and heading to Jindabyne in March 2015 - as they did last year - for various outdoor pursuits.
For any enquiries regarding this age group, contact Paul “Wallie” Everdell on 0428 426 094.
