Hundreds of young rugby players descend on Lescheanult Recreation Park for annual NAIDOC Rugby 7s tournament

It was a busy weekend at the Leschenault Recreation Park as hundreds of young rugby players put their skills to the test.

A total of 33 teams descended on Australind on Saturday and Sunday for the annual NAIDOC Rugby 7s tournament hosted by the Bunbury Barbarians Junior Rugby Club.

At the awards presentation on Sunday afternoon, club president Steve Denison thanked those who had helped make the event happen.

“I just really want to say a special thank you to each and every one of you for coming down. It really made it special,” he said.

“It is a lot bigger and better than last year, and next year hopefully, we’re going to be a bit bigger and better again.”

A number of the winning teams from the tournament were from clubs in Perth who had travelled south for the weekend.

The under-8s competition was taken out by the Harrisdale-based Arks Rugby Union Football Club.

Mr Denison described the age group as the most fiercely contested over the weekend.

“It was amazing,” he said.

“Every time I walked down there, the atmosphere was just electric. You could just feel it.”

The Butler-based North Coast Rugby Union Football Club won the under-10s division, while the Kwinana Wolves were under-12s champions.

Kalamunda Districts Rugby Union Club was victorious in the under-13s competition, which was the oldest age group at the tournament.

The event was supported by star power from the Western Force rugby union team, with players Reed Prinsep and Sam Carter handing out awards to the players and teams who shone during the weekend.