NSW Touch Football is excited to be returning to Orange for the 2021 NSW Junior Regional championship.
Orange will host one of its largest-ever sporting events in terms of the number of competitors.
In 2020 in the midst of Covid the NSW Touch Board along with the States Regional Directors made the heart-breaking decision to cancel the event.
With unprecedented time in the history of our sport and the nation, the decision was made with our members, our participants, our officials, and our staffs’ health and safety as the primary consideration.
Twelve months down the track we are excited to see Representative Touch back on the park even though Covid restrictions are still in play.
The NSW Junior Regional Championships will bring around 900 participants and another 100 officials for the weekend of competition with teams playing in blocks (morning and afternoon sessions) and games being back-to-back under the Arrive Play Leave format, it now opens up endless possibilities for visitors to explore Orange and local towns.
“I know anecdotally of people who are coming to town but just not to the fields, so people are going to be spending money in different areas than they normally would,” said General Manager Dean Russell
The championships will be held on May 1 and 2 at the home of the City of Orange Touch Association, the Waratah Sports Club.
The Orange Thunder is a progressive representative club, with fantastic participation and an elite junior academy. The Thunder players will now have the opportunity to play on their home turf, representing the Hunter Western Hornets.
Orange Thunder Representative Director, Joel Begnell is excited to see the Junior Regionals back in Orange.
“It’s exciting to have the highest level of junior touch competition being played in Orange,” Joel Begnell said. “Touch is one of the biggest participant sports in Orange and we’re growing each year.”
The state Junior Regionals event is the pinnacle of the Junior Touch Football pathway within NSW and will see over 54 teams compete in 8 divisions to be crowned Junior Regional Champions. The very best 12s, 14s, 16s, and 18-year-old boys and girls rep sides will be showcased over two days, vying for a win,
NSWTA Business Operations Manager Kylie Hearne estimates that with over 1000 participants and officials, joined by significant family and friends traveling in support to the destination, the event will deliver an expected economic impact of $1.1 million into the Orange community.
“The significant economic impact into communities via our event is really pleasing,” Kylie Hearne said.
“It is certainly an exciting time for the Junior sport. In 2020 the Junior Regionals was caught up in the pandemic and unfortunately was the only event canceled in our Representative Pathway. We are grateful for not only our Affiliates but our parent’s ongoing patience and support during this time but were back and with a fantastic facility in Orange, we can’t wait to watch some of the amazing talents we have within our sport”
Games will commence at 8.00am each morning and progress through to the finals on the Sunday afternoon which will begin from 2.15pm. The prestigious 18s girls’ and boy’s finals will be played at 3.45pm and 4.15pm respectively.
A media opportunity will be held closer to the event at the Waratah Sports Complex in Orange where NSWTA Business Operations Manager Kylie Hearne, NSWTA President Mark Hearnden, and Orange City Council leadership will formally launch the 2021 Junior Regionals at 7.30am Saturday 1st May
