The local area will play host to international rugby league later this year with the Country Rugby League (CRL) announcing the Western Rams will take on Italy on October 15.
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Western Division Rugby League will play host to the Federation of Italian Rugby League Australia (FIRLA) and take on the emerging nation’s three squads – under-14s, under-21s and first grade.
The matches will be a post-season event, with the senior game being the final hit out for FIRLA before flying to Serbia for the 2017 World Cup qualifiers.
The FIRLA first grade outfit will largely comprise Queensland Cup and New South Wales Cup players. Ensuring tough opposition for Rams coach Darren Jackson’s senior squad as he continues a Western Division re-build, already eyeing off the 2017 Country Championships.
The Rams featured 11 Group 11 players during this season’s Country Championship campaign and Dubbo CYMS trio Jyie Chapman, Colby Pellow and Jarryn Powyer will be hoping to maintain their place in the side for the international clash.
Players for the Italian under-16s and under-21s teams will be drawn from the FIRLA development programs with links to various clubs across the Australia.
The game is also a great opportunity for Western Division to continue building its relationship with FIRLA, the Bathurst games this October come following Group 10 under 15s and 16s playing the Italians at Lithgow last October.
“The games in 2016 and last season have eventuated through the help of Joe Inzitari from Lithgow who is part of the FIRLA committee,” CRL Western Regional Area Manager Peter Clarke said.
“It will be a unique cultural experience for our Western squads, and a great opportunity to promote International pathways for players and officials with Italian heritage or a family background other than Australia leading into the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.”
The opportunity is a welcome one for Jackson after the Rams only got the chance to play one match in this year’s Country Championship.
After an unparalleled build-up, which included the formation of a 99-man train-on squad during the off-season, the Rams were beaten 32-20 by the Greater Southern Stars.
The three CYMS players took part in that match while Kieran Cubby-Shipp just missed out on the 17-man squad.
With both CYMS and Macquarie taking part in the Group 11 finals, players from those sides have a perfect opportunity to push for Rams selection.
The matches will be played on October 15 with the 16s at 1pm, the 21s at 3.20pm and the first grade match at 5pm.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
