Tom Robertson jokes the last time he tried to step an opponent it resulted in knee surgery, so the fast-paced and attack-focused nature of beach rugby isn’t exactly for him.
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But despite that, the injured Wallabies prop still had a ball at the Dubbo Rhinos’ Beach to Bush tournament on Saturday.
The inaugural beach rugby tournament at Dubbo Showground was well-received, with strong numbers and good crowds taking part in the action.
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Dubbo Kangaroos junior Robertson and Australian Sevens star Mahalia Murphy were special guests brought along by Rugby NSW.
Robertson is currently sidelined after undergoing a knee reconstruction earlier this month but he was still enjoying the chance to get back to his home region and be part of a unique event.
“It’s great to see the love of rugby out here. This is all fun and games for the locals and it’s a great day to see something different, beach rugby five hours away from the closest beach,” Robertson said, before laughing about his experience in the sport.
“It’s not my game. I’m not the best stepper and last time I tried to step someone I tore my ACL and that’s why I’m on crutches today so definitely not a game for me but some of the talent here is amazing.
“There’s definitely guys better at stepping than me out here.”
While the event did produce plenty of laughs both on and off the field, Robertson and Murphy were two of the many to point out how important tournaments like the Beach to Bush are for rugby as a whole.
“This makes my legs feel fatigued just watching this,” Murphy smiled.
“It’s hard enough running on grass let alone sand so credit to them while I’m sitting in the shade.
“But the more we expose the game the more people will engage with our sport. Giving them an opportunity to play gives people an interest to seek further progress in rugby.
“Hopefully some of these people want to go and play more games.”
Robertson stated it’s important to boost the profile of the sport in rural areas, and events like the one organised by the Dubbo Rhinos helps that.
“The Rhinos are doing a great job out here supporting the local game and the Waratahs are trying to work a lot with smaller clubs to get rugby’s sporting profile back up there. That’s incredibly important,” he said.
“A third of our Waratahs team comes from country origins and Ned Hanigan is a Coonamble boy and he’s starting for the Wallabies in the Bledisloe.
“It’s great to be back and hopefully we can get a few more Wallabies from these areas.”
That strong presence of players from regional areas at the game’s highest level is not lost on Robertson or his country-bred teammates.
“We had a photo this year with all the boys who are from the country and there was at least a dozen there and some brought their Akubras too,” he laughed.
“But it’s great to look around and you’d never feel out of place if you said you were coming into the team from Dubbo because there’s some many others from the country.
“It’s a bit of a pride thing too, you come from the country to the big smoke and you’re playing for the state’s top team.”
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.
