Rugby Union: Caldwell Cup back on menu for Hunter Rugby after two-year absence from Country Championships

Hunter will send a men's, women's and under-19s team to the Country Championships in Tamworth on June 12-14.

Pinkerton is in the process of finalising a Hunter men's squad which will be drawn purely from the local competition.

"The side will be made up of guys who are keen and want to be a part of it," Pinkerton said. "I think there will be a few new faces and younger faces. I hope a few of the guys who have been through the colts system are keen to be involved."

The Country Championships were cancelled last year due to COVID-19 and Hunter withdrew from the men's competition in 2019. However, with the inclusion of the Hunter Wildfires in the Sydney Shute Shield, the local clubs pushed for the region to compete at Country again.

"The NHRU took the decision not to go to Country in 2019 because it was expensive and we weren't convinced about the pathways," Hunter Rugby Union president Glenn Turner said. "When the Wildfires came along and we were putting together the charter of co-existence, the clubs made it abundantly clear that they wanted Hunter Rugby to compete in the Country championships. They are out constituents so that is what we have done. We have entered three teams."

Hunter will compete in the Caldwell Cup along with defending champions Central West, Illawarra, Central Coast and Far North Coast. Western Plains, Central North, New England and Mid North Coast are in the second-tier Richardson Shield.

There are six zones in the women's and colts.

A NSW Country Cockatoos squad will be selected to compete in the Australian Rugby Shield against Queensland Country, Melbourne, Canberra, Tasmania, Perth Gold, South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory in Adelaide in October.

Pinkerton steered Hunter to the Caldwell Cup in 2017. They went down to Central West in the semi-final in 2018.

"We want to win the Caldwell Cup back, having not been there for a couple of years," said Pinkerton a former NSW Waratahs back-rower. "The pathway to Country has some merit and attraction as well."

Pinkerton will be assisted by Wallabies great David Campese, who is the skills coach. Bob Harrison is manager.

Hunter will have their first training session on Sunday in an abbreviated preparation.

"It is basically two Sundays and a mid week opposed session against the Wildfires," Pinkerton said. "Let's get the best team we can. Give some young guys an opportunity, reward guys who have been playing well for the past couple of years and get into it."

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