There will no doubt be some impressive scorelines on eight fields at The Armidale School (TAS) this weekend, but it is the remarkable numbers behind the scenes that promise to make this year’s TAS Rugby Carnival one to remember.
A record 66 teams will take part from NSW, Queensland, the ACT and Western Australia for this year’s 20th fixture on 12-13 April, comprising 32 school teams and 34 junior clubs. In what is the largest under 12s carnival in Australia, 43 mixed teams will play 15-a-side, while the girls Sevens tournament continues to expand, with eleven teams taking to the field in under 14s, and twelve, in the under 16s.
All up, that’s around 1225 registered players, coaches and managers – and that’s not including another couple of thousand parents and supporters expected to descend on the regional city for the event.
“Planning for this year really started as soon as the final whistle was blown last year,” carnival organiser Rachael Edmonds said.
“It really is as large as we can logistically handle and it involves a massive team here at TAS including grounds and housekeeping staff, our catering team, teachers and admin staff. But to see the joy it brings to the boys and girls playing and their parents, is well worth the effort,” she said.
Those logistics include accommodation, with more than 700 players staying on site at TAS, and others in various locations in Armidale, Uralla, Walcha and Tamworth. Motels are also booked out across the north.
Another challenge is the draw, with 177 games to be played on eight school ovals, across the weekend.
On the whistle will be 26 junior referees, supported by referee coaches, who are part of a NSW Rugby referee coaching program. An emporium of local stallholders selling homewares, jewellery and other artisan goods will be operating in the foyer of the Hoskins Centre.
“One of the big attractions of the carnival is that it offers an opportunity for school and club teams to mix together, camp on tour, develop their teamwork on and off the field in a fantastic carnival atmosphere – and that’s something pretty unique. There really isn’t anywhere else where you could find the Wellington Redbacks juniors up against Canberra Grammar, for instance,” she said.
Indeed, such is the carnival’s reputation that this year will see the debut appearance of Wellington Redbacks and Illawarra Districts from NSW, Uni Rugby Club from Toowoomba, Qld, and Kalamunda Districts Rugby Union Club, flying across from Perth.
“It’s fantastic for Armidale, fantastic for TAS but most of all it’s fantastic for the players, and we’re sure everyone’s going to have a great time,” Mrs Edmonds said.
Armidale Mayor Sam Coupland said the event was a huge drawcard and a highlight on the city’s calendar.
“The TAS Rugby Carnival is something that is uniquely Armidale and has become a major fixture on our calendar. Sporting tourism is a key pillar of the economic drivers in our region and the TAS Rugby Carnival is a cornerstone in making this a reality.”
Teams playing at the TAS Rugby Carnival 2025
| Boys U12s Brisbane Grammar School, QLD Brothers RC Sunshine Coast, QLD Caboolture Rugby Union Club, QLD Canberra Grammar School, ACT Central Coast Grammar School, NSW Coffs Harbour Crusaders JRUC, NSW Cranbrook Junior School, Sydney NSW Flinders Rugby Club, Buderim QLD Goondiwindi JRUC, QLD Gunnedah JRUC, NSW Highland Goats, NSW Inverell Highlanders JRUC, NSW Kalamunda Districts RUC, WA Lennox Head JRUC, NSW Lindisfarne Anglican School, Tweed Heads NSW Lismore JRUC, NSW Marist College, Ashgrove QLD Marist College, Canberra ACT Maroochydore Swans RUC, QLD Merewether Carlton JRUC, NSW Moree Junior Bulls, NSW Noosa Dolphins JRUC, QLD Pacific Lutheran College, Caloundra QLD Padua College, Brisbane QLD Peregian Saints Rugby, QLD Port Macquarie JRUC, NSW Scone Grammar School, NSW Shore School Prep, Sydney NSW South Toowoomba JRUC, QLD St Aloysius’ College, Sydney NSW St Augustine’s College, Sydney NSW St Ignatius College, Riverview NSW St Joseph’s College Nudgee, QLD St Patrick’s College, Strathfield NSW St Pius X College, Sydney NSW Sunshine Coast Grammar School, QLD Sydney Grammar School, NSW Tamworth Tri Colours NSW The King’s School Prep, Sydney NSW The Scots College Prep, Sydney NSW Toowoomba Bears JRUFC, QLD Waverley College Junior School, NSW Wellington Redbacks JRUC, NSW | Girls Sevens 14s Coffs Harbour Snappers, NSW Gunnedah JRUC, NSW Lismore JRUC, NSW Matthew Flinders Anglican College, QLD Merewether Carlton JRU, Newcastle NSW Pacific Lutheran College, NSW Port Macquarie JRUC, NSW Scone Grammar School, NSW Sunshine Coast Grammar School, QLD The Armidale School, NSW UNE Rugby Club, Toowoomba, QLD Girls Sevens 16s Coffs Harbour Snappers, NSW Gunnedah JRU, NSW Illawarra Districts JRUC, NSW Matthew Flinders Anglican College, QLD Merewether Carlton JRU, Newcastle NSW New England Girls’ School, Armidale NSW Pacific Lutheran College, NSW Port Macquarie JRU, NSW SCU Marlins, Coffs Harbour, NSW Sunshine Coast Grammar School, QLD The Armidale School, NSW UNE Rugby Club, Toowoomba, QLD |