Warringah players to tour Alice Springs: (L-R) Lee Murphy, Matthew Wedlake, Tristan Stanley
(Tour Captain) and Sarah Laman – Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com

by Karen Watson –

With Warringah Rugby Club celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2014, the decision to once again head on tour left the RATS with a big decision…. what was a suitable destination? Their last three humanitarian rugby tours saw the RATS travel far and wide to Kenya (2011), Fiji (2012) and to Cuba in 2013. So it may come as a surprise to some that the RATS this year have decided to remain in Australia and focus their efforts on local communities in the Northern Territory.

“Our decision to remain in Australia and do a local tour to Alice Springs follows the Club’s pattern of shorter tours every other year,” said Tour Manager Ryan Trbojevich. “But in saying that, we have been keen to tour Australia for some time and have been actively looking for the right opportunity. It’s also perfectly timed as this year is the Club’s 50th Anniversary, so there is something special in the fact that we are touring our own backyard during such a significant year for our Club.”

This year’s trip is shorter than previous – only 5 days – but for Tour Captain Tristan Stanley, an Australian tour doesn’t necessarily mean it will be any easier or without challenges. “After touring third world countries like Kenya and Cuba and making a difference there, it will be awesome to help out the less fortunate in our own country,” said Stanley. “But one thing I’ve learned from touring is to always expect the unexpected. It’s going to be really tough playing in extreme heat against a team that will be super excited to dish it up to us. We have to be ready to rumble.”

Donated items about to be shipped to Alice Springs for distribution among aboriginal communities
Photo: karenwatsonphotography.com

Rats winger and tour regular Edward Doyle agreed. “My biggest concern heading up there is how hot it’s going to be,” said Doyle. “We have had the altitude in Kenya, the gravel playing surface in Cuba. But I think this time it will be heat and humidity like we have never experienced. It’s going to test us.”

If the heat is worrying the Aussies, you have to wonder how visiting UK players, Matthew Wedlake and Lee Murphy will cope. Already embedded with the Rats for a year, this tour gives both Wedlake and Murphy the chance to explore a side of Australia they haven’t yet seen.

“Im really looking forward to going on tour with the team and experiencing the Rats tour atmosphere I’ve heard so much about,” said Wedlake. “I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to go to Alice Springs if it wasn’t for this tour so it will be good to see another side to life in Oz and experience the aboriginal culture. But I have to say I am least looking forward to trying to play footy in the heat!  I struggle enough in Sydney!” he added.

“I’m just really hoping to see a real aboriginal playing a real didgeridoo,” commented Murphy.

The tour to Alice Springs will also be significant for other reasons. For the first time in recent Club history both the men and ladies teams will be touring together. “The Ratettes are a big part of our Club and one of the advantages of the shorter trip was that enough of the ladies were available to join us this year and were very keen to play a game of sevens against an Alice Springs select team,” observed Trbojevich.

The Santa-Teresa Grandstand and change rooms, 80km out of Alice Springs

Asked what this tour meant to the girls, Ratette Danielle Meskell put it simply. “The Rats are family but in this case, I’m excited that the Ratettes get to experience another part of rugby culture.” 

Sarah Laman was quick to agree, adding “We have such incredible players within our Club and we have an amazing spirit, so it’s fantastic to have this opportunity to give back and share with other communities”.

In keeping with all Rats humanitarian tours, a central focus is promoting rugby at the grassroots level while helping disadvantaged communities. The Rats will be visiting the Santa Theresa and Amoongunna townships, located approx 2 hours out of Alice Springs and will once again be distributing items donated by the local Northern Beaches community including school books, toys, clothing and sports equipment. While there, the players will also conduct rugby clinics for underprivileged children in these communities.

The Santa Teresa ground features a second, smaller grandstand.

For Doyle, this is actually what makes the Rats tours so rewarding. “The thing for me which I always get excited about is getting out amongst the community and hanging with the kids, experiencing the local sights that as a normal tourist you just wouldn’t get to see,” he said. “When it’s done through a rugby tour, you gain so many different insights and that’s really the special part of it.”

Like past tours, the Rats have relied on assistance from local contacts on the ground during the planning of this tour. “We’ve been lucky to have Tim Blacker (Central Australian Rugby Union) and the NT tourism office helping us on the ground in the Northern Territory,” said Trbojevich. “There is already a lot of excitement in Alice about our tour apparently. We hear they have held open trials among players from four local clubs to select a team to play Warringah on Saturday 18th. Thankfully for our players, the match will be scheduled to kickoff at 8pm when they tell us the temperature should be a more bearable 30 degrees!”

The fact that this historic tour will be undertaken in the Club’s 50th year and includes new players isn’t lost on Tristan Stanley. “Friendships for life are formed through touring and we have quite a few new players and the Ratettes joining us on this tour,” he said. “After every tour, the group comes back with a real sense of accomplishment of what was achieved and a realisation of just how lucky we are. I can’t wait for the new touring players to feel that as well.”

The Rats depart for Alice Springs on Thursday 16th January 2014.