The best junior representative teams in New South Wales will go head to head this month, with the Western Rams facing the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Mudgee's Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium on Sunday, 20 May.
The match between the premiers of the CRL's Andrew Johns Cup and the UNE Harold Matthews Cup will feature some of the best under-16s players from Regional and Metropolitan NSW and will be played as the curtain-raiser to the St George Illawarra Dragons' and Canberra Raiders' NRL match at the venue.
CRL Elite Pathways Football Manager Matt Parish believes it's a great opportunity not only for the Rams, but for CRL's new junior representative pathways to test themselves against the elite players in the state.
"The Western Rams under-16s played some great football to remain undefeated in the Andrew Johns Cup and it's a wonderful opportunity for these kids to test themselves against a side like Manly," said Parish.
"We've (CRL) achieved some great results with the introduction of the Johns and Daley Cups and this game gives us an opportunity to benchmark against the elite pathway competition in the state."
Parish admitted the opportunity to play in a curtain-raiser to an NRL game will be something the players will always remember.
"It's been great to see NRL games taken to regional areas this season and it's massive for these young men to be able to play in front of their family and friends before an NRL competition match.
"I'd like to thank both the NSWRL and Manly Sea Eagles for helping to make this game happen and I strongly encourage fans to get to Glen Willow early to see two great young rugby league teams in action."
The Western Rams and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles match will kick off at 11.45am; with the St George Illawarra Dragons and Canberra Raiders NRL match kicking off at 2pm.
