ACT Brumbies players and Wagga Crows female rugby players after a fast and fun training session at Connolly Park on Thursday night. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
Thursday night rugby training at Wagga’s Connolly Park levelled up to VIP status, with players from the ACT Brumbies driving over from Canberra to have a run with juniors.
For Brumbies winger Corey Toole, the trip was extra special.
“I grew up here in Wagga, and played junior footy for the Wagga Crows,” he said.
“When I got a bit older I played for the Wagga Waratahs, and now I’m over in Canberra with the ACT Brumbies.”
The modest 26-year-old is also an Olympian and competed in Paris in 2024. He also represented Australia at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and has been described as ‘the fasted man in Super Rugby’. He scored nine tries in his debut season, elevating the boy from Wagga to being Australia’s leading try-scorer with 43 tries at the 2021-2022 World Rugby Sevens tournament in Dubai.
ACT Brumbies players who travelled to Wagga to train with Wagga junior players: Hudson Creighton, Corey Toole, Tom Wright, Yoshitaka Yazaki, Luke Reimer, and Lington Leli. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
Six ACT Brumbies players travelled to Wagga to join the juniors and guide them through attacking, defending, passing and handling drills, plus rucking and mauling, and some perfectly placed kicks and catches.
The focus was on fun and enjoying the game they say is played in heaven.
Observers were hard pressed to determine who enjoyed the evening more – the junior players met professional players whose childhood rugby dreams actually came true.
“It can happen. Yeah, definitely. I was once a kid their age in the same shoes,” Toole said.
Corey’s parents had a little history-repeating moment when they popped into Connolly Park to once again watch their son on the field where his rugby journey began.
“I just think it’s so special coming back to Wagga, and back to this (rugby) community here. The kids are all so happy and so eager to learn and the Brumbies players here are really excited. It’s good to see some of the local kids playing rugby,” Corey said.
ACT Brumbies winger Corey Toole (right) back in his hometown with Under 16’s coach, and his former Mater Dei Catholic College teacher Michael Kanck, with his son Austin. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
Under 16s coach Michael Kanck was Corey’s teacher at Mater Dei Catholic College, which made the ACT Brumbies visit more like a family catch-up.
“It’s sensational. It really shows the (ACT) Brumbies’ commitment to grassroots rugby and to have such high-quality players here, including an ex-student of mine, Corey,” he said.
Under 16’s Wagga Crows player Ruby Roberts gets an autograph. Photo: Marguerite McKinnon.
Among the Brumbies players was Tom Wright, who made the switch from rugby league to union before making his Australian international rugby union debut in 2000 against New Zealand in the Bledisloe Cup.
Wright scored a try for the Wallabies with his first touch of the ball that helped Australia defeat New Zealand 24–22.
“Oh, it’s probably what every kid here this evening, that we got to train alongside, dreams of,” Wright said.
“I count myself pretty fortunate being here, as I get to live out a dream that I had when I was a kid, and I don’t take this opportunity for granted, that’s for sure.”
Other ACT Brumbies travelled to other Riverina centres including Grenfell, Tumut, Harden, Jindabyne and Cootamundra.
ACT Brumbies head coach Stephen Larkham, himself Australian rugby royalty, said getting out to country clubs during the bye week was really important for the ACT Brumbies.
“Rugby has deep roots right across regional communities, and these visits are a chance for our players to connect with the people who support the game and the Brumbies,” he said.
“A lot of young kids in those areas don’t always get the opportunity to see professional players, so if we can spend some time coaching, signing autographs and just chatting, it can make a real impact. It also reminds our group who we represent every time we pull on the Brumbies jersey.”
Under 16 Player Ruby Roberts has played for more than three years with the Wagga Crows and relished the professionals offering game-changing tips.
“The takeaway is 10s, 20s, 30s. When you run out to choose your player, you yell out to your teammates, ‘I got 10, I got 20, I got 30. And then that’s who you run up on. That’s where your position is from the ruck off,” Ruby said.
“Everyone’s more excited that girls are playing now. So when they find out that you play rugby, they’re really happy for you. And, yeah, some boys my age are a bit surprised that girls play, but then they think it’s pretty cool too.”
When training finished, generous gift packs and merchandise were handed out to the surprised and delighted younger generation. One or more could follow the ACT Brumbies lead and also make a significant mark on the sport, and continue Wagga’s solid reputation as a city of good sports by becoming another homegrown champion.
