The Yass Rams juniors welcomed some of the ACT Brumbies to help out with their training last Tuesday night.
Photo Credit: Lachlan Lawson Brumbies Media
The Brumbies players were Club Captain Allan Alaalatoa, Vice-Captain Tom Cusack, and the uber-talented young duo of Rob Valenti and Darcy Swain.
The four players helped out with the junior Rams boys and girls in what was no doubt a thrilling evening for all the lucky youngsters involved.
President of the Yass Junior Rugby Union Club Josh Leighton was grateful for the calibre of players sent to Yass by the ACT Brumbies.
“We normally get a couple out for our season launch and for presentations and things like that.”
“That said, we’ve never had this many regular first-grade Brumbies and the captain, so it’s a pretty big thing, and the kids are really excited,” he said.
Josh argued that whilst Rugby Australia’s public perception in the community and portrayal in the media may be poor, in his dealings with them at the Rams, they’ve done more than he would’ve ever asked for.
“You hear a lot of stuff from the media that Rugby Australia doesn’t support grassroots rugby and that they’re not supporting us from the ground up; I actually say they are!”
“The Brumbies are always helping us out; they like to give us match footy’s, and now they’re sending out players to help build some excitement for the kids this season,” he said.
The night is part of the “Brumbies to the Bush” program. Throughout their bye week, the ACT Brumbies send their players out to regional communities to support the local junior rugby program.
Max O’Driscoll
