Ruckloads of cash: junior rugby championship brings $500,000 to city

By the time the last try was scored in the under 14s state final at Endeavour Oval on Monday afternoon hotels, motels, cafes, restaurants, wineries, farmstays and bed and breakfasts were counting their share of about $500,000 spent by competing teams and their families.

Fifteen teams from Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Canberra and Victoria competed in the three-day tournament.

NSW Junior Rugby Union president Ben Gregory said each team would have spent about $30,000 on accommodation and meals with more coming from officials.

Mr Gregory said the Robin Hood Hotel, Orange Ex-Service’s Club and the Hotel Canobolas had been popular venues for the teams.

“A lot of the parents have also been enjoying themselves at the various drinking establishments around town too” he said.

“We love coming out to the country where they showcase the bush.

“The teams all rave about it. The Orange City and Orange Emus [rugby union clubs] put on a great show.

“The Emus ground is set up beautifully for what we want.”

He said he expected Orange would host the event again next year.

ACT Junior Rugby Union president Martin Sullivan said they had brought the entire executive and their wives to Orange for the weekend.

They stayed at the Uralla Farmstay on Forest Road and had visited several wineries.

“We have 11 people staying,” he said.

“We’ve been renting that out for the last three years and tasting all the wine in the district.

“We just love it up here.”

He said about 70 people had travelled from Canberra for the carnival.

“They’ve got the formula right for hosting this event.”

The tournament’s director of rugby Deryck Ward said about 1500 people attended.

“They’ve done all the tourist things,” he said.

“A lot of the teams will book here as they leave for next year.”

Mr Ward said it was a fundraiser for both local clubs which had run the catering.

“They would get around $5000 profit [each],” he said.

“Days like this are excellent.”

Jade Warner of Mona Vale said it was her first visit to Orange with the Manly team.

She said they visited Patina Wines and the team stayed at the Greentrees guesthouse.

“We’ve done everything at the Greentrees,” she said.

Ursula Newman from Mudgee said they stayed at the Oriana Motor Inn over the weekend.