The Harvey Norman Heart of Rugby Regional Tour has wrapped up, and what a journey it was. Over ten weeks, from 4 June to 13 August, Classic Wallabies and Classic Wallaroos joined Rugby Australia and the Australian Rugby Foundation to take rugby to some of the most remote and passionate communities across the country: 41 clinics, 37 towns, and 2,411 young players.
Delivered as part of the Australian Rugby Foundation's Grassroots pillar and made possible by the support of Harvey Norman, the tour gave boys and girls aged 9-to-12 the chance to learn, train and connect with some of Australian rugby's greatest names. For many of the communities visited - from Moranbah to Mount Isa, Innisfail to Kalgoorlie - it was a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
The Classic Wallabies and Wallaroos were there every step of the way.
The tour opened in Adelaide, where Nick Frisby, Annette Finch, Matt Hodgson and Jono Lance supported two clinics at Woodville Rugby Club and Brighton Rugby Club. From there it was on to Queensland and the Northern Territory, with Charlotte Caslick and Scott Higginbotham on the Gold Coast, Annette Finch and George Smith on the Sunshine Coast, and Julian Huxley and Ned Hanigan making the trip to Darwin.
Morgan Turinui carried the flag alone in Tasmania, visiting Launceston and Hobart, before the tour moved into Southern New South Wales and the ACT. Glen Ella joined Radike Samo for the coastal swing through Wollongong, Nowra and Moss Vale, while Radike and Violeta Tupuola continued on to Canberra, Wagga Wagga and Albury.
The NSW Coast leg saw Ned Hanigan return alongside Morgan Turinui for Lismore, Emilee Cherry join the tour for Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie, and Radike Samo come back for both Newcastle clinics. In Western Australia, Curtis Rona was present for every clinic - from the long drive into Kalgoorlie through to the final Perth stop - with Morgan Turinui joining for the closing day.
Central and South Queensland brought one of the tour's most extensive stretches, with Shirley Russell, Curtis Rona and Morgan Turinui covering Mackay, Moranbah and Emerald together. David Campese made a special appearance at Hervey Bay, and Shirley Russell and Curtis Rona rounded out the Queensland leg in Rockhampton, Hervey Bay and Toowoomba.
In Victoria, current Australia Men's Sevens players Ben Dalton and Ben Dowling brought some added energy to the two Melbourne clinics at Harlequins and Power House, joining Classic Wallaby Matt Hodgson who was across all three stops including Geelong. The NSW Central West leg through Moree, Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange and Bathurst was anchored by Ned Hanigan and Shirley Russell, with current Men's Sevens player Jayden Blake also joining the tour for the Dubbo clinic.
Scott Higginbotham and Mike Harris carried the tour through Cairns and Innisfail on the Sunday before the final push to Mount Isa, Charters Towers and Townsville, where Alicia Lucas also joined to support the last two clinics. The Mount Isa Rugby Union captured the feeling perfectly in a tribute they shared after the visit: "For regional communities, these opportunities can have a lasting impact - giving our kids something to aspire to and showing them where hard work, commitment and a love of the game can take them."
That's exactly why the Classic Wallabies and Wallaroos are proud to be part of this program. The Heart of Rugby Regional Tour is about more than skill development clinics - it's about showing young players in every corner of Australia that the game belongs to them too.
Thank you to Harvey Norman and the Australian Rugby Foundation for making it possible, our Classic Wallabies partners, especially The Rugby Club Foundation for helping us share the spirit of the game, and to every club, union and community that opened its doors. We'll see you out there again.
