Anticipation is building and preparations are underway after the launch of the inaugural Group 7 Rugby League Magic Round and Beer, Footy and Food Festival at Artie Smith Oval in Bomaderry on Thursday.
Over 4000 rugby league players, spectators and officials are set to descend on the Shoalhaven for the event on May 31, which will see four back-to-back local first grade games played in conjunction with the first Good Time Beer Co’s event to be held south of Sydney, in a major boost to the local economy and tourism sector.
Group 7 Senior Rugby League Operations Manager Ashton Sims said excitement was building within the region’s rugby league community ahead of the event, the first of its kind in the area.
“There’s a really big buzz around the area about it, this is the first time it has ever happened in Group 7 history,” he said.
“We’re really excited to see all the fans come out, but not just for rugby league, for people who enjoy food, who enjoy a beer, [and] enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere, because that’s what it’s all about.
“It’s not just about rugby league, it’s about binding the South Coast community, all of our different regions […] to come to one fantastic location to watch some footy and enjoy themselves.”
With the top four Group 7 teams all equal on eight points, and just two games separating the entire table after six rounds, Sims said the four games are shaping up to be great contests.
“I think with the smile on my face you can see how excited we are, how open the competition is,” he said.
“From a neutral perspective, from an administrator’s perspective, it’s an absolute dream.
“I know we’re only six rounds in, but the competition is certainly heating up.”
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Sims said he was pleased to be working in collaboration with the Beer, Footy and Food team, which has attracted large crowds to their previous events in Newtown and Newcastle, and Shoalhaven City Council, which facilitated the use of a non-traditional venue in Artie Smith Oval.
“It’s great to work with the Beer, Food and Footy Festival,” he said.
“Matt Rule, the co-founder of Beer, Footy and Food, has a great understanding of how to deliver big events.
“[They] were behind the Magic Round at Henson Park, at North Sydney Oval, also at Newcastle in the past, so we’re coming in armed with people who know how to deliver high-quality rugby league events.
“Shoalhaven City Council have been fantastic, [they] have done whatever they can to get this ground booked [and] ready to go.”
Beer, Footy and Food Festival co-founder and event organiser Matt Rule said the company was excited to partner with Group 7 and bring their flagship event to the South Coast.
“We’ve had the event going up in Sydney for almost 10 years now, and we’ve had some great success,” he said.
“We’ve got a real passion for local football and regional football at its best, and Group 7 provides that for us, and the Shoalhaven Council with this great facility.
“I feel with this area, it’s very local, there’s so many great communities so close together, and I think that’s going to be a real advantage to us and the event.”
Rule said Good Time Beer Co is looking to create an event that benefits the community as well as the game in the region.
“Our business, we want to come back here as often as possible,” he said.
“We’ve got 20 brewers coming down on the day, [including] some cracking brewers from the South Coast but also a lot coming down from Sydney.
“It’s important for us to create something that the community can really grab on to, both the footy community and the local community itself, that’s how these events succeed.
“As I said, we’ve got a great competition we work with in Group 7, and that is definitely the goal, to be coming back year on year, growing the event, so that not only we benefit and Group 7 Rugby League benefits, but the community also sees a benefit in it as well.”
The four games on the day will see Berry face Milton-Ulladulla, Albion Park tackle Jamberoo, local side Nowra-Bomaderry take on Shellharbour Sharks, and Stingrays Shellharbour face Jamberoo.
