With more than 40 games scheduled the three-day tournament proved a burden the venue wouldn't be able to bear in those conditions - not without both fields being chopped up to the point of complete destruction, at least.

With player safety an obvious concern, thought was also put in the catastrophe that potential impact could have with the back half of Central West Rugby Union's junior and senior seasons still to be played too.

But with thousands of people expected to turn out for the tournament, locals and visitors, and provide undeniable economic benefits to the city, an 11^th hour solution to split the tournament between two venues was found.

"It worked out in the end because if we'd had any more snow or even rain leading in, or on Saturday morning, we probably would've been forced to call it," Penny Fisher, competition manager, said.

"We were so pleased to be able to push forward and hold the competition, for some of the visiting sides from Sydney they'd not played rugby at this level for more than 12 months, everyone was great with the late changes too."

Games were played on Endeavour's No.2 Oval and Max Stewart Oval, with Orange City Council facilitating the move, on Saturday and Sunday although the former was then deemed unsafe following the second day of play.

Endeavour Oval's main ground, however, had recovered enough to handle the tournament's finals on Monday without taking significant damage, the lower place play-offs were played at Max Stewart.

"It's a real credit to all the volunteers, the way everyone kept going despite the hurdles," Ms Fisher said.

"It meant a lot of people coming to town, it really still surprises me how people haven't been this side of the Blue Mountains. The feedback was all positive and the rugby was really high quality too."

Emus junior president Keryn Phillips echoed Mrs Fisher's appreciation, saying the work of volunteers 'completely justified my faith in the rugby union community we have in Orange'.

"The weather turned everything upside down, we needed two of everything but had to split our volunteers in half to cover both grounds," she said.

"It was all hands on deck from about 6.30am every day in sub-zero temperatures and then we had fallen trees to contend with, limited parking and everything else in between.

"It was a difficult situation but the work Penny and all the volunteers did was just amazing, with no obligation to do it and most of the time without being asked.

"I could go on and on thanking people but I'd hate to forget anyone and they know who they are."

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