Last weekend the Southern Rough Riders (RR) rugby side competed in the ACT Veteran's Fool's Day Rugby carnival at Duntroon in Canberra. The side came away from the event undefeated from its three matches and winners of the Cosgrove Shield for Sportsmanship, an award presented by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove.
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The Southern Rough Riders features many local ex-rugby players not quite ready to throw the boots out yet, but also not willing to, or not able to fully commit to the rigours of the competition proper.
David Page, Neil Seaman, Troy Bensley, Ken McCallum, Will Picker, Ian Culley, Dan Hartwell, Josh Proudman, Robbie Cosgrove, Todd Charnock, Stephen Croker and Michael Seaman are all ex- Crookwell Dog Rough Riders and Gary Corby, Mick Peden, Joel Cordingley and Anthony Yeo are all ex-Taralga Tiger RR players.
The Rough Riders are an invitational Golden Oldies team based in Southern NSW. Not only Crookwell, Taralga and Goulburn, but Broulee, Boorowa, Cowra, Bathurst, Candelo, Carwoola, Harden, Orange Singleton, Yass, Young and now Winton in New Zealand have players and or support staff representation.
Roughies are not discriminatory. You can be a shearer, plumber, farmer, businessman, branch manager or builder and you can be welcomed into the Rough Rider family. All it takes is a love and passion for the good things about rugby, that being; kit day, touring, post-match functions, comradery, beer and rum. Combine this with a swag full of rugby experience, an ability to lie about your personal ability and a couple of leave passes a year.
Probably one of the highlights of RR rugby is that it does away with those things that rugby players don't like; Training and running long distances.
The Southern Rough Riders are now two tours old. Having competed in the Tathra Crabfest at the end of 2018 and the ACT Veterans carnival last weekend. No-one can remember the scores in Tathra, but the bacon and egg breakfast was brilliant, the scenery was amazing and the games were short. The side is banking an undefeated status when it returns to Tathra this year.
The touring side is well sponsored and following every tour donates substantially to relevant charities. Following the carnival in Tathra, the team donated to the Bush Fire Recovery Appeal for the town and after the ACT Vets game, a donation was made to Soldier On.
Following the appearance in Canberra the side has been approached to attend several carnivals throughout the year. Looking forward to hearing more about the Southern Rough Riders in coming months and years.
