FORMER Wallaby David Carter said that despite the Central North season finishing last weekend, the rugby season is still in full swing with the Country Eagles due to touch down in Tamworth next week for a National Rugby Championship (NRC) clash at Pirates’s home ground, Ken Chillingworth Oval, only a fortnight before the World Cup kicks off in the Old Dart.
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The NSW Country Eagles president will be at both and has promised a highly entertaining game at the Pirates ground when the Sydney Stars journey into country rugby heartland for the round 4 clash tomorrow week.
The Eagles just missed a spot in the grand final of the inaugural season last year after starting as underdogs, and have had mixed results from their opening two games this season.
Last round the ACT Brumbies feeder club, UC Vikings, beat the Eagles 37-13, after the Country side opened their season on the right foot with a tight 32-31 win over the Greater Sydney Rams in round one.
“It has already been a great year for rugby and, for rugby fans, it just keeps going,” Carter said.
“The NRC is producing some excellent games and the World Cup is just around the corner.”
A bye last week has allowed the Eagles a chance to re-group as they embark on their first of three jaunts to country NSW venues.
“Hopefully we get some good weather because the ground (Pirates) looks an absolute picture at the moment,” Carter said.
“There are plenty of country players and Super Rugby players in both sides so it will be top-quality rugby.”
A big drawcard might be the president’s son Sam and, while David would love to see him playing for the Country Eagles this weekend in Tamworth, he would rather see him pull on the Wallabies’ green and gold again to play against the American Eagles in the USA this weekend instead.
Prop James Hansen is in the same boat, after both were called in to the Wallabies tour squad after missing the World Cup squad last month.
They both still have a chance of playing themselves into the squad on the USA tour but, if they aren’t needed, there is every chance they will be in Tamworth for the game next weekend.
Former Queensland Reds wild man Beau Robinson will likely line up for the Eagles and add plenty of energy at the breakdown on his return from injury, while Gunnedah son James Roberts will line up for the Stars along with Tamworth’s own Paddy Ryan.