RUGBY LEAGUE
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DUBBO will play host to the NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) State Rugby League carnival at Apex Oval in just a few short weeks.
The carnival is expected to bring up to 1000 people to Dubbo including players, coaches, managers and family members visiting the city.
It will be the first time a NSW state rugby league carnival has been held in Dubbo and the first on the new turf laid out at Apex's main oval.
Every region in NSW will be sending a team to the carnival, which will run over three days in June.
Carnival organiser and Dubbo District PSSA president Amanda Thorpe said it would be both independent and public schools will compete in the carnival.
"Every student in the state that falls under the PSSA banner will compete in this carnival," she said.
"Once each region's team is selected, they train as often as possible and get to know the coaches.
"Each team has a proper coach and manager, so it is all very professional."
At the end of the carnival, a NSW PSSA team will be announced and they will compete in the national PSSA competition later on in the year.
"In previous years, we've held PSSA state carnivals in Parkes where kids played touch football, as well as the CHS (Combined High School) rugby union carnival," Thorpe said.
"But because this is the first time rugby league has been played at a state carnival in Dubbo, there is a lot of excitement in the air, particularly for the western area kids who get to play on their home turf."
Kenny Bell from Orana Heights Public School, Jarrod Peachey from Buninyong Public School and Aiden Lake (Orana Heights) will be the carnival's Dubbo competitors.
Riyah Brooks is the only competitor from Narromine, where Mitch Wright from Parkes High School will represent his hometown.
Paul Faulkner will be the western team's manager (hailing from Bedgerabong Primary School) with Andrew Hooper (Grenfell Primary School) looking after the coaching side.
The NSW PSSA president and vice-president, as well as the NSW PSSA coach and convenor will attend the carnival.
NRL referee development officer Willy Barnes will coordinate a development squad of referees to officiate the carnival.
NRL rugby league development manager Kyle Meyer has also assisted in planning the event.
Former NRL legend David Peachey will be involved in the presentations at the end of the carnival.
The other zones/teams include Mackillop, Polding, Hunter, North West, Riverina, South Coast, North Coast, Sydney East, Sydney South West, Sydney, North and Sydney West.
The carnival will take place at Apex Oval on Tuesday June 18 to Thursday June 20.