Classic Wallabies to showcase rugby legends at country festival
The Classic Wallabies are thrilled to confirm their participation in the 2025 Santos Festival of Rugby to be held in Narrabri from September 20-21!
The Santos Festival of Rugby combines elite high-performance rugby with opportunities for regional New South Wales and Queensland rugby participants to play on the big stage.
The Classic Wallabies will deliver a free coaching clinic for all ticketed juniors to kickstart proceedings on Saturday. Games will commence at 2:00pm Saturday and 9:00am Sunday.
The Classic Wallabies will then take on the Narrabri Blue Boars in an Over-35s 10-a-side match on Sunday morning, continuing the festival's tradition of bringing former international rugby stars to regional Australia.
The festival also features the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds meeting across four formats in the country NSW hub: Super Rugby AUS and Super Rugby Under-19 competition fixtures, a Super Rugby Women's exhibition match and four Women's Rugby Sevens matches. NSW Country and Queensland Country will also do battle at U18 girls level.
Classic Wallabies General Manager Morgan Turinui said the festival provided a unique opportunity for the organisation to connect with regional rugby communities.
"The Santos Festival of Rugby has become one of our favourite events on the calendar," Turinui said.
"There's something special about bringing former Wallabies to regional Australia and sharing our passion for the game with communities that might not otherwise get the chance to see international players up close.
"Coming off our recent two-match series against the British & Irish Legends in July, our players are looking forward to taking on the Narrabri Blue Boars. It's going to be a fantastic exhibition.
"The atmosphere in Narrabri is always incredible, and we're particularly excited about our kids clinic on Saturday which gives us the chance to inspire the next generation of rugby players. These regional festivals are what rugby is all about – community, connection and celebrating the game we all love."Santos Managing Director and Chief Executive Kevin Gallagher said the annual event reflected all the best elements of rugby and community connection.
"We're proud to bring the Santos Festival of Rugby back to Narrabri and share in the passion this community has for the game, while giving regional Australia a chance to experience first-rate rugby they would usually have to travel to a capital city to see," Gallagher said.
"At Santos, we believe in the power of sport to inspire, connect and strengthen communities. We also believe in great initiatives and events that shine a light on some of our incredible regions, like Northern NSW, which also stands to benefit from visitor numbers and the economic uplift of being host to a fantastic festival. That's why we support sport and back local communities - because when communities thrive, we all benefit.
"Events like this bring people together and we are excited to be part of a weekend that celebrates community spirit, regional pride and great rugby."
The festival will celebrate its fifth year in 2025, alternating between Narrabri (2021, 2023 and 2025) and Roma (2022 and 2024). The switch to September is a first with previous festivals having been staged in February over each of the past four years.
Santos and the Queensland Rugby Union collaborate on the delivery of the festival, with support from the NSW Waratahs and Classic Wallabies, representing a successful partnership between the organisations.
Tickets will be on-sale in coming weeks, with other exciting announcements to come.
Saturday 20 September
- Classic Wallabies Kids Clinic, 12:30pm – 1:30pm
- Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women's Rugby Sevens, 2:00pm
- Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women, 2:30pm
- Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women's Rugby Sevens, 4:30pm
- Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Super Rugby AUS, 5:45pm
Sunday 21 September
- Queensland Country vs. NSW Country, U18 Girls, 9:00am
- Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women's Rugby Sevens, 10:20am
- Classic Wallabies vs. Narrabri Blue Boars Over 35s Rugby 10s, 11:00am
- Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Women's Rugby Sevens, 12:00pm
- Queensland Reds vs. NSW Waratahs Super U19s, 1:00pm
With wide open plains and the Nandewar Ranges scattering the horizon, the Narrabri Region truly is a hidden gem of North-West NSW. Home to the Kamilaroi People, the Narrabri Region covers 13,000 square kilometres filled with history, national parks, and unique wildlife.
Set in the Namoi Valley, the region is renowned for producing some of Australia's best Cotton, Wheat, Lambs and Beef with Coal Seam Gas and Coal mining now a part of the region's diverse composition.
One look at the vast night sky shows why it's called 'Big Sky' country – the Narrabri Region truly offers something for everyone. To find out more: Explore Narrabri Region
For more information about Classic Wallabies, visit classicwallabies.com.au
