The Cootamundra Country Club will be a hive of activity this Saturday as former footy players converge for the Maher Cup Reunion.
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More than 180 people are expected, exchanging tales of great moments in the sport of rugby league on a local stage.
The Maher Cup, which ran from 1920 until 1971, is etched in local sporting folklore.
The competition included the towns of Tumut, Gundagai, Cootamundra, Young, Harden-Murrumburrah, Junee, Temora, Barmedman, West Wyalong, Cowra, Grenfell and Boorowa.
It fostered intense local rivalries and is considered among the most significant of the regional rugby league challenge cups played in Australia.
The trophy was originally contested in rugby union circles, however is now firmly remembered as a rugby league prize.
Cootamundra’s Tom Spain, who is one of the organisers of this weekend’s reunion, officiated the very last Maher Cup challenge on June 5, 1971, when Tumut defeated Young to keep the cup where it all started.
Spain is extremely pleased with the response from former players.
He said people are travelling from as far as Townsville, Broken Hill and all parts of NSW to attend.
Busloads of people bursting with Maher Cup memories will arrive from Tumut, Young, Temora and Harden.
“The Country Club will be rocking!” Spain said.
“It will be a good social get-together with a lot of tries scored and goals kicked,” he continued.
Meanwhile, the Cootamundra Junior Rugby League Club is supporting the reunion by decorating the club.
Young members of the club will also assist serving platters of finger food, with the club committing to a 50/50 ratio of league and leaguetag players.
Junior League president Stephen Howse said the reunion is a terrific opportunity for these emerging players to hear the tales of past players who lived and breathed rugby league, perhaps inspiring them to greatness, while contributing to the reunion and those who organised it.
The reunion will start at 3pm and will take an informal format.
There will be some speeches during the night, however the weekend is mainly about former Group Nine players, partners, officials and supporters from any of the towns which participated in the challenge having an opportunity to reminisce about ‘Maher Cup Mania’.
With this reunion taking place some 15 years after the last official Maher Cup reunion, it is anticipated it may be the last one.
