More than 500 secondary school students from across the Northern Rivers converged on Casino yesterday for the opening round of the 2026 Ray White Casino & Kyogle Alex Gibbon Cup, reflecting the continued growth of rugby sevens in the region.
The annual tournament, named after former Australian Rugby Sevens representative Alex Gibbon, features boys’ and girls’ teams in the under-14, under-16 and under-18 divisions.
Queen Elizabeth Park hosted the event for the first time, with six full-sized fields accommodating the tournament’s largest field of competitors to date. Schools travelled from Grafton to the Tweed to take part.
Former Australian Rugby Sevens representative Alex Gibbon said events such as the Alex Gibbon Cup played an important role in increasing participation and creating pathways for young players.
“To get more than 500 kids here for a weekend is massive – not just for the area, but for rugby itself,” Gibbon said.
Gibbon said rugby sevens had become an increasingly important pathway for young players following its inclusion in the Olympic Games.
“It’s really important to get all these schools involved and create a competitive environment. Rugby league and AFL have done this really well, and this tournament helps rugby union build those same opportunities for young players.”
He said the tournament was also helping identify emerging talent, with several players from previous editions progressing to leading rugby schools and representative programs.
“There’s some exciting talent here. Last year there were kids who have now gone on to boarding schools in Brisbane because of their rugby, and that’s exactly the sort of opportunity these tournaments can create.”
NSW Rugby development officer Will Campbell said participation had continued to increase as the tournament became more established.
“Each year it just gets bigger and better. The schools are building great rivalries and the students love coming back to compete. It’s become one of the best rugby events we run on the Northern Rivers.”
Campbell said the tournament extended beyond the opening round.
“This is Round One of the tournament, with the finals to be played on 19 August. The winners from each age division will then progress to the NSW State Finals, giving local players the opportunity to compete against the best school rugby teams in the state.”
He said rugby sevens complemented other football codes by providing another pathway for young athletes.
“Sevens is fast, exciting and accessible. It develops the skills that make great footballers – passing, catching, speed and one-on-one defence – while giving young athletes another opportunity to represent their region and their state.”
The tournament is named after local rugby product Alex Gibbon, who represented Australia in Rugby Sevens from 2013 to 2017.
Gibbon played his junior rugby with the Wollongbar-Alstonville Pioneers and attended St John’s College, Woodlawn, before joining the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby.
After returning to the Northern Rivers, he helped revive Richmond Range Rugby Club.
He is now principal of Ray White Gibbon Property Partners, whose Casino and Kyogle offices are the tournament’s naming rights sponsor.
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