https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/warialda-public-school-takes-out-rugby-union-state-finals/news-story/5bf8b26cf244887963eb7196287a513b

They belong to a school of fewer than 200 students and their community is in the grip of devastating drought, but that did not stop these young kids from claiming an astonishing victory at the State Rugby championships on Wednesday.

The under 13’s team from Warialda Public School travelled nine hours on a bus to Sydney to play in the NSW PSSA State Rugby finals and, though excited to be participating, were not expected to take out the competition.

But that’s exactly what they did.
The school’s coach and principal, Dan van Velthuizen, said the achievement feels surreal. “It is such a massive­ achievement, it’s hard to believe it’s real,’’ he said. “From a school of only a couple hundred kids, we were up against schools that had enormous numbers.’’

Mr van Velthuizen said getting through one of NSW’s most devastating droughts had given the boys the inner strength to compete.

“Our kids are a tough bunch, they fought hard. They were under a lot of pressure but we had a lot of support that helped us get over the line.”

Their cheer squad on the day were students from North Rocks Public School, who have been sending drought care packages of toys and chocolates to their country counterparts for the past 12 months.

We were lucky that North Rocks public school sent a bus load of about 60 students to cheer us on, who had been supporting us through the drought,” Mr van Velthuizen said.

“Our community has been pretty devastated by the drought and they have been amazingly generous.

“They were cheering us on the whole time, singing war cries and they really got us over the line.” Also there to lend his support was teammate Darcy Mitchel, who was injured in a farming accident just weeks ago. Darcy was wheeled out onto the field to join in the celebrations. “Darcy still able to be a part of the team and it lifted everyones spirits having him there,” Mr van Velthuizen said.

Sam Hall, 11, who played hooker, said they could not have won the comp without all the support.

I think part of the reason we won was because North Rocks Public School were there,” he said. “We also played well as a team, our defence was good and we didn’t lose our heads when the pressure was on.”

Mr van Velthuizen’s son, Os, said winning the championships was a dream come true.

Warialda, in North West NSW between Moree and Inverell, has a population of fewer than 1200 people.


bravo boys..

can someone please put up a pic of the team..

a few members here could learn a thing or two from this story,.

Mighty effort  [smiley=thumbup.gif]

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Warning to denizens. Stand clear. Cods is aroused and has aroused Gnads.

Good job - well done kids   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Good on them. Congrats to the whole team. Some future A graders in there.

Opiates of the masses.
Sport, a waste of time and effort.

Sport should be done for exercise, nothing else

Laugh till you cry wrote on Sep 5^th, 2019 at 1:04pm:

Warning to denizens. Stand clear. Cods is aroused and has aroused Gnads.

Shaddup, you - it seems your moment of clarity has gone... get off that sh1t ....

These kids did bloody good, mate..... their blood's worth bottling... now leave your personal sledging at home...

Valkie wrote on Sep 5^th, 2019 at 7:51pm:

Opiates of the masses. Sport, a waste of time and effort. Sport should be done for exercise, nothing else

Yeah - but I played in a school team that lost every game, and still got two Best and Fairests in the season... bloody hard, let me tell you...  but fullbacks in Rugby are like that... we don't understand 'give in' .... wish the Wallabies would get the same ideal, and some of the NRL teams...

Laugh till you cry wrote on Sep 5^th, 2019 at 1:04pm:

Warning to denizens. Stand clear. Cods is aroused and has aroused Gnads.

sadly these boys and their effort has no effect on you..

I guess only gordy rattles your cage ....what!

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Sep 6^th, 2019 at 12:58am:

Laugh till you cry wrote on Sep 5th, 2019 at 1:04pm: Warning to denizens. Stand clear. Cods is aroused and has aroused Gnads. Shaddup, you - it seems your moment of clarity has gone... get off that sh1t .... These kids did bloody good, mate..... their blood's worth bottling... now leave your personal sledging at home...

oh didnt see that grap..... make that ditto..

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Sep 6^th, 2019 at 1:02am:

Valkie wrote on Sep 5th, 2019 at 7:51pm: Opiates of the masses. Sport, a waste of time and effort. Sport should be done for exercise, nothing else Yeah - but I played in a school team that lost every game, and still got two Best and Fairests in the season... bloody hard, let me tell you...  but fullbacks in Rugby are like that... we don't understand 'give in' .... wish the Wallabies would get the same ideal, and some of the NRL teams...4

Team sports were terrible.
I played Aussie rules for a few years, and, like you lost every game.
I tried cricket, but that stick was a pain in the arse to use.
Even tried gridiron, enjoyed that, but it only lasted while I was in uni.

But I was an A grade ten is player, got as far as state titles, but wasn't good enough to get any further
I was also a pretty good swimmer
Got to the state titles again, but came in second last (With my best time ever)
It's a different world at that level.

Martial arts, I was a black belt, but had no aspirations of being the best.
I was 28 when I started, and fought competitively for several years.
The best I ever did was third place.
But I Truely enjoyed the sport, more so than any other I have played.

All these sports, and many others were for FUN I didn't care if I won ( probably why I didn't win, not hungry enough)

Laugh till you cry wrote on Sep 5^th, 2019 at 1:04pm:

Warning to denizens. Stand clear. Cods is aroused and has aroused Gnads.

Is that an inferred accusation of paedophilia you grub?

You need another holiday.  >:(

sport is great it isnt about winning at all costs..but this little team showed extra courage and I say well done to them...


I think it a great way for young people to learn it isnt all about them, they need to learn to work as a team and share  and if they love it wonderful...

Grappler Truth Teller Feller wrote on Sep 6^th, 2019 at 1:02am:

Valkie wrote on Sep 5th, 2019 at 7:51pm: Opiates of the masses. Sport, a waste of time and effort. Sport should be done for exercise, nothing else Yeah - but I played in a school team that lost every game, and still got two Best and Fairests in the season... bloody hard, let me tell you...  but fullbacks in Rugby are like that... we don't understand 'give in' .... wish the Wallabies would get the same ideal, and some of the NRL teams...

I went to a small private school that could only just manage to fill one rugby team per year and we played large schools with 5 teams. We once lost 200ish-0 to an A team, but were competitive against the C teams and our biggest achievement was beating a B team.

I played club rugby for one year after school then gave it in.

My biggest claim to sporting fame, I was a pretty handy windsurfer for a while and a gear rep gave me a sail. OK so it was 2nd hand (hardly used) but it had the team logo on it. It's tenuous, but I'm happy to claim I was a professional windsurfer  ;D ;D ;D

cods wrote on Sep 6^th, 2019 at 5:47pm:

sport is great it isnt about winning at all costs..but this little team showed extra courage and I say well done to them... I think it a great way for young people to learn it isnt all about them, they need to learn to work as a team and share  and if they love it wonderful...

Wish my daughter luck for the netball semis this weekend, she has x2 semi finals!

Rugby League (aka National REDNECK League/NRL)
is where even Losers get to Win, because they're all Losers.

GayFL is just the same, just taller and skinnier.

NRL and AFL are like Al Bundy and his 'pretty boy' neighbour with the rat-faced wife.

Gnads wrote on Sep 6^th, 2019 at 5:47pm:

Laugh till you cry wrote on Sep 5th, 2019 at 1:04pm: Warning to denizens. Stand clear. Cods is aroused and has aroused Gnads. Is that an inferred accusation of paedophilia you grub? You need another holiday.  >:(

Nah...Shytter has caveman on the brain.
He's been on the bottle for a couple of days and can't get me out of his head. I'm quite flattered tbh. Some creepy smelly black fella on a computer wack'n off over the caveman. 🍆

HI LAUGH! 😘

Gordon wrote on Sep 6^th, 2019 at 6:05pm:

cods wrote on Sep 6th, 2019 at 5:47pm: sport is great it isnt about winning at all costs..but this little team showed extra courage and I say well done to them... I think it a great way for young people to learn it isnt all about them, they need to learn to work as a team and share  and if they love it wonderful... Wish my daughter luck for the netball semis this weekend, she has x2 semi finals!

Good luck Mini Gordonette.

Jasin wrote on Sep 6^th, 2019 at 6:08pm:

Rugby League (aka National REDNECK League/NRL) is where even Losers get to Win, because they're all Losers. GayFL is just the same, just taller and skinnier. NRL and AFL are like Al Bundy and his 'pretty boy' neighbour with the rat-faced wife.

And you're even a loser at the 5 knuckle shuffle  ::)

Captain Caveman wrote on Sep 7^th, 2019 at 10:12am:

Gordon wrote on Sep 6th, 2019 at 6:05pm: cods wrote on Sep 6th, 2019 at 5:47pm: sport is great it isnt about winning at all costs..but this little team showed extra courage and I say well done to them... I think it a great way for young people to learn it isnt all about them, they need to learn to work as a team and share  and if they love it wonderful... Wish my daughter luck for the netball semis this weekend, she has x2 semi finals! Good luck Mini Gordonette.

I'm gutted I missed both games.

First game, they were one point behind and she got a goal on the buzzer to put them in the semis.

2nd game, I managed to get there 2 mins before the end and everyone said she (and the whole team) played off the hook, final next week. 

She had a form slump for the last two weeks so she was very very happy and so is dad.

Gordon wrote on Sep 7^th, 2019 at 4:14pm:

Captain Caveman wrote on Sep 7th, 2019 at 10:12am: Gordon wrote on Sep 6th, 2019 at 6:05pm: cods wrote on Sep 6th, 2019 at 5:47pm: sport is great it isnt about winning at all costs..but this little team showed extra courage and I say well done to them... I think it a great way for young people to learn it isnt all about them, they need to learn to work as a team and share  and if they love it wonderful... Wish my daughter luck for the netball semis this weekend, she has x2 semi finals! Good luck Mini Gordonette. I'm gutted I missed both games. First game, they were one point behind and she got a goal on the buzzer to put them in the semis. 2nd game, I managed to get there 2 mins before the end and everyone said she (and the whole team) played off the hook, final next week.  She had a form slump for the last two weeks so she was very very happy and so is dad.

Good on her. I'd imagine shell be buzzing for days after that....then nervous as hell for the finals.
Bummer dad missed the game though.

I think all kids are winners

the score isnt the B all and end all....

cods wrote on Sep 8^th, 2019 at 9:25am:

I think all kids are winners the score isnt the B all and end all....

Winners are grinners but it's more important to teach kids to play their best, learn teamwork and be a good sport.

Pretending the score doesn't matter is probably as harmful as acting like it's the only thing.

cods wrote on Sep 8^th, 2019 at 9:25am:

I think all kids are winners the score isnt the B all and end all....

Simply participating isn't how it works.

None of this everyone gets a trophy just for being there BS.

Where in your adult life do you get rewarded for failure?

Kids need to be taught how to cooperate in a team environment and to learn that the aim is to win ..... but if you don't there's no shame and you just try again.

They need to learn about striving to win & that losing is all part of the game.

That's what happens in all aspects of life.

Gnads wrote on Sep 8^th, 2019 at 12:37pm:

cods wrote on Sep 8th, 2019 at 9:25am: I think all kids are winners the score isnt the B all and end all.... Simply participating isn't how it works. None of this everyone gets a trophy just for being there BS. Where in your adult life do you get rewarded for failure? Kids need to be taught how to cooperate in a team environment and to learn that the aim is to win ..... but if you don't there's no shame and you just try again. They need to learn about striving to win & that losing is all part of the game. That's what happens in all aspects of life.

With one of mydaughter's netball comps there was no ladder or finals until year 5, but they still knew which team was the winner of the comp. As long as less emphasis is placed on  winning for the young ages and it's allowed to increase as their maturity increases, that's fine.

Losing is also fine if they've been taught to do their best and not give up.

yep [smiley=thumbup.gif]

great to see a  happy story come out of you cods

Gnads wrote on Sep 7^th, 2019 at 10:15am:

Jasin wrote on Sep 6th, 2019 at 6:08pm: Rugby League (aka National REDNECK League/NRL) is where even Losers get to Win, because they're all Losers. GayFL is just the same, just taller and skinnier. NRL and AFL are like Al Bundy and his 'pretty boy' neighbour with the rat-faced wife. And you're even a loser at the 5 knuckle shuffle  ::)

Yeah - I tried and failed.  ;D
But at least all the NRL and AFL 'Guys' can be winners at your shuffle  ;)

Face it! NRedneckLeague and GayFL are for guys who are losers.
Hell - the Wallabies are nicer guys but really big Losers and the current Cricketers are a 'Toxic' sort of bunch with no personality. Throw in some good ol' Aussie Tennis players (male of course) too and you have the
VIRULENT AUSTRALIAN SPORTING MALE.
(LOSERS in many ways  ;))

You can always rely on the Australian Sporting Male to chase a weakness, not follow a strength (much like the Celebrity/Media male :P).

Thank god the Australian women are saving this country some very serious sporting embarressment.  ;D