Central North squads finalised for Country Champs weekend

Central North’s squads for the 2023 NSW Country Rugby Championships in Tamworth this weekend have both been finalised and the home zone’s two teams are ready to put their best foot forward.

The men’s team is among the six sides competing for the Caldwell Cup in 2023 that can also get their hands on the Richardson Shield, which they won last year.

The Kookaburras have been placed into Pool A with the reigning Caldwell Cup champions Central Coast as well as the third-ranked side following last year’s event, Illawarra.

Central North’s 2023 campaign will get underway on Saturday morning at 8.30am at Scully Park when the hosts meet Illawarra.

They will then challenge the Central Coast team at Chillingworth Oval at 3.40pm that same day.

Central North’s women’s team will be playing for the Thompson Cup and is looking to go one better after being runners-up last year.

It has been placed into pool B with Hunter, New England and Far North Coast.

Central North will take on Far North Coast at 8am, then meet New England at 11.30am and Hunter at 2.50pm.

Those three games will all be played at Chillingworth Oval.

Saturday’s matches will determine what rankings teams are given going into the playoff games and finals the following day.

Narrabri Rugby Club is significantly represented across the two squads, with Will McDonnell, Will Ciesiolka, Daniel Kahl, Josh Schwager and Toby Knight all named in the men’s squad, and Toni Gale, Bella Cruickshank, and Esta Kalatzis named in the women’s squad.

Wayne Nott will be the strapper for Central North’s sides at the Country Championships event, while Daniel Kahl is an assistant coach of the men’s side to Ed Nankivell, as well as being one of the team’s forwards.

The squad lists are as follows:

Men – Andrew Collins, Tim Collins, Henry Leslie, Mitchell Mack, Daniel Kahl, Josh Schwager, Hamish Dunbar, Nick McCrohon, Daniel Calavassy, Jayden Kitchener-Waters, Harry King, Will McDonnell, Jack Edwards, Toby Knight, Bailey Swain, Sam Avard, Michael Purtle, Will Ciesolka, Lachlan Elworthy, Ratu Vuibau, Duncan Woods, Jackson Sharpe, Will Ellis, Angus Roberts, Ryan Hodson, Tyson Waters.

Women – Annabelle Avard, Jess Baker, Emmy Barr, Lana Bottrell, Jacinta Cooper, Bella Cruickshank, Rosie Ferguson, Toni Gale, Athena Gerakiteys, Esta Kalatzis, Tyanna Kerr, Peta Lawrence, Meri Leiataua, Steph Lennon, Simone Lickorish, Amie Middlemiss, Georgia Moore, Kara Nadruku, Torika Nadruku, Abby Nortrup, Lucy Prudden, Jaymee Pyne, Piper Rankmore, Sarah Stewart and Katie Sweeney.