The concept is great & I hope the players support it
This is a "Back to the Future" type concept and worked really well in the early 2000's when I was lucky enough to still be running around.
Way back then there were a number of very competitive rugby teams in this area that were able to provide some high quality players from the likes of Griffith (Seru Rogo, Bill Bainbury, Junior Vakolaloma), West Wyalong (Sykes, Matt Cooper), Grenfell (Hughes Brothers, Nowlan Brothers, Cooper Brothers, Brook Butler and a speedy winger), Albury (Bell, Alexander Brothers, Wes Grayson (Army) possibly also Wheatley?), City (Crowley, Galloway, Fraunfelder), Waratahs (Herriot, Benecke, Francis, Walker, Saddler, Condon, Brabin) Tumut (Roche, Mason), Condobolin (The Halfback that won a million B&F points was handy), Hay ("Carp "Bell, Jim Ives), Rivoll (Hoody, Shoody, Gordon Refshauge, Bump, Matty Conn, Geoff Davis and another second rower), RARC (Waters, Dumigan and many others).
That's not to say that there aren't handy players out there in SIRU at the moment (and maybe I'm just reflecting on a Sunday morning!) but from my memory there were a lot of handy players spread across the zone and the players were very much at the same level/age/experience etc.
I seriously hope that the local players get behind this, it's the first step in building towards a solid rep program. My mail tells me that South Australia are building well for the BPT in June. Also, what a great stepping stone to a SIRU return to Country Week.
If I was playing and knew that SIRU were going to Country Week, I'd want to take the chance to show the other zones in NSW how strong we actually are and this starts now. As much as I don't agree with the separation between Brumbies/NSW Rugby and Country Week it is a good chance for those players who are putting their hand up to show the other competitions what they are made of. Start working now and give it everything you've got...
Do I sound like a has been already?
Or a never was!!