Sport

Gary McSweeney Cup and Dio Rugby Trials

Last Friday, a team of 13 St Xavier’s students participated in the Gary McSweeney Cup which also acted as the trials for the Armidale Diocesan Rugby Union squad. Across the day, the team played 3 pool games, a semi-final and after successive wins, the final. Facing off against St Nicholas’ Tamworth in the final, the team faced their toughest opposition of the day. St Xavier’s scored first and St Nicholas’ replied shortly after, but that was the motivation our team needed to regroup and re-ignite the dominance that they’d displayed in the previous four matches. St Xavier’s went on to score 3 more tries, ending the match 20-10 victors and winners of the Gary McSweeney Cup for 2026. Across their five games, they only had four tries scored against them! The team will now travel to Sydney in August to take on the best schools in NSW.

Teamwork and mateship was a key theme from the start of the day. The boys were well aware that they could fall into the trap of playing selfishly when selectors were trying to select individual players to form the Armidale Diocesan squad and that playing as a dominant team would actually make them look better as individuals. Well, didn't that foresight pay off…not only did they dominate the day’s play, 11 of the 13 boys were chosen to play in the Possibles/Probables match that the selectors used to finalise the Diocesan squad. Congratulations to Harley Hinchcliffe, Hugo Bradford, Jock Mainey, Lewis Mainey, Mason Insch, Nicholas Martin and Thomas Beer, who were all selected in the squad to attend the Polding Trials in Forbes later this term. 

The whole team needs to be congratulated on their teamwork across the whole day. Having 11 of the 13 players being selected for Possibles/Probables is quite a rare feat and speaks volumes about the team’s cohesion and unity, and most importantly, their coachability. They took on feedback as an opportunity to improve and consistently played to their strengths. The parents present will attest that there haven’t been many better displays of schoolboy rugby than those that were on show in Tamworth last Friday.

High Jump Finals

If your child qualified for the high jump finals, you would have received an email.

here is the timetable:

St Xavier's Athletics Carnival

The excitement is mounting as we count down the days to our annual Athletics Carnival On Friday 26th June at Donnelly Playing Fields, 69 Maitland St Gunnedah. 

Please note the following IMPORTANT information:

• The carnival is classed as a school day and the same rules and expectations regarding behaviour and attendance apply as they would at school. All students from Kinder to Year 6 are expected to attend.
• Students DO NOT come to school. They are to go straight to Donnelly Fields. The school will be closed as all staff will be at the carnival.
• The school buses WILL NOT be dropping students to Donnelly Fields. It is the parent's responsibility to drop off and pick up students at Donnelly Fields.
• We will be running the 800m first this year at 8:30am. If you nominated your child to compete in this event please ensure they are there before 8.30am to marshal.
• There will be no 100m finals. All heats will be timed and final placing will be awarded according to these heat times. 
• Each age group has been allocated a Staff member who will be supervising the group throughout the day. Students must stay with their group leader at all times. Parents are welcome to sit in the house areas with the students, but please do not take them away. You will need to sign your child out with their group leader if you are taking them home early. **If your child will be leaving the carnival with someone other than a parent/guardian, we will require this in writing prior to the day. Please add this to the consent form or send an email to the office.
• Students compete in the age they turn this year, regardless of when their birthday is.
• Students and parents are not permitted in the busy recording/timekeeping area and should use extreme caution crossing the track.
• Children will need to bring plenty of water, as well as sunscreen and a hat. Children requiring Asthma puffers should take these with them to the carnival for use under parental or staff supervision.
• Children should wear coloured clothes representing their house or school sports uniform. PLEASE LABEL ALL ITEMS! It could be very cold, please ensure your child has warm clothing.
• If using coloured zinc/hairspray please apply at home and do not bring it to the Carnival.
• The ground is often wet, especially in the mornings. It is a good idea for your child to have a plastic poncho, picnic rug or plastic bag to sit on.
• Diocesan Athletics - There are qualifying times, distances and heights to be eligible for Diocesan Athletics. We can also only enter a set number of competitors for each event. For 100m the age groups are 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 years. For all other events the age groups are Juniors (8, 9, 10 years combined), 11 years and 12 years. 

Upcoming Sport Events

-NSWCPS Cross Country- Wednesday 24th June

-St Xavier's Athletics Carnival- Friday 26th June, consent due on Compass today

-NSWCPS Rugby - 29th June

-Toni Palmer Memorial Shield (Rugby League)- Wednesday 1st July (nominatations closed)

-ACS Athletics- Wednesday 5th August

-NSWCPS Chris Gangemi Rugby Gala Day- 24th August