Long weekend return to tradition - Country vs Sydney at Coogee Oval 11 June

Long weekend return to tradition

Congratulations to John Fonokalafi, selected for the Sydney team and Toby Browne, the Country team.

One of the highlights of the representative season returns to Coogee Oval on the June long weekend with the much anticipated clash between Sydney and NSW Country.

The match is a return to the pre-professional era when the annual Sydney-Country clash was a virtual NSW selection trial.

The game was last played in 1995 - the year before professionalism - with Country scrumhalf Steve Merrick becoming the last player to be selected for the Waratahs and the Wallabies from his Country club, Singleton.

Sydney has dominated the history between the two sides, however Country claimed a memorable win in 1990 when a number of Sydney-based players returned to their roots.

Captained by Goulburn's Simon Poidevin, the side that day included Wallabies Tim Gavin and Marty Roebuck who joined the Country-based State players Dwayne Vignes, Dave Carter, Peter Palmer and James Grant in an historic victory.

In a move which will bring even more focus to the clash, Sydney Premier Rugby will rest on the day of the game with ABC Television broadcasting the match live throughout the state.

The match will be followed by after-match presentations at Randwick Rugby Club, while a fantastic afternoon will flow into the evening with the HSBC Waratahs hosting the Highlanders up the road at the Sydney Football Stadium.

SYDNEY v NSW COUNTRY
Saturday 11 June 2011
Coogee Oval
Kick-off: 3:10pm (Live ABC TV)
Tickets available at the gate
Adults $15 // Children Free (16 & under)

Click to view Sydney team list

Click to view Country Gold team list