NELSON Bay’s top rugby juniors have described their Under 18s goodwill tour of Vanuatu as the best week of their sporting lives.
Fourteen prospects from the Gropers’ powerful junior nursery have just returned from a seven day sojourn to the South Pacific island where they embraced the rich Melanesian culture and educated the locals on the finer points of rugby.
Based at the capital Port Vila, the players proved excellent ambassadors and enjoyed the paradise-like beauty, tropical lifestyle and opportunity to mix and pass on rugby tips to the local youth.
“It was an unbelievable experience for our touring squad and so rewarding,” a delighted team captain Nash Campbell told News Of The Area.
“We had a great time promoting the game of rugby with the island folk and lapped up the culture and lifestyle activities on offer,” revealed Campbell, an outstanding five eighth with a bright future.
The Gropers last visited Vanuatu back in 2017 with the youngsters raising $48,000 to cover costs for this year’s trip.
Highlights included visits to a local orphanage, the Lifechanger Christian College at Mele for an impromptu skills clinic plus a scenic ferry trip to the stunning island of Ifira where they played two Sevens fixtures against Under 20 and Under 18 sides from the local Black Birds club.
The tourists also enjoyed a quad bike land and sea adventure, watching movies at Vila’s outdoor cinema, swimming at Eton Blue Lagoon and Magic Island Resort, jungle paintball, Zipline and jungle swing, and a day on Irriki Island for snorkelling, kayaking and paddle boarding.
During the visit to the Christian College, the touring party met up with teacher Brigida Sam to donate jerseys, footballs, training shirts, boots and medical supplies.
On the rugby paddock, Nelson Bay were beaten 17-7 by a tough Ifira lineup in a bone-jarring Under 20s clash before trouncing their Vanuatu counterparts 27-5 in the Under 18s challenge.
Spreading the ball wide, the Gropers demonstrated their Sevens skills to outclass the Black Birds with pure power and speed.
Leading the way were the classy Campbell, vice captain Bastiaan Osborne-Zorbas – a pocket rocket half back with exceptional skills – and rising fullback Liam Pietraszek.
Four of the tourists – Campbell, Osborne-Zorbas, hooker James Ellis and forward Lachy Herring – were members of Nelson Bay’s premiership-winning Under 18s side that defeated Maitland in last year’s Hunter Junior Rugby Grand Final.
Both Osborne-Zorbas and Pietraszek are bound for Sydney next season to play in the NSW Rugby Colts competition.
Dynamic playmaker Bastiaan, 18, will line up for Warringah Colts while dashing rookie Pietrraszek – after one season of junior rugby – has linked with the West Harbour club.
The touring squad were coached by Nelson Bay Junior Rugby Club president Dion Cooper and managed by club stalwart Jon Leung with club secretary Matt Findlay also a part of the travelling troupe.
Other players to shine were the crafty Ellis, versatile Herring, strong running backs Dylan Walls and Kye Nichol, utility James Donovan and impact forwards Hudson Plympton, Billy Leung, Mitchell White, Kai McGann, Will McMillan and promising 16-year-old back rower Nuka Takarua, who held his own in senior company.
Nelson Bay Junior Rugby Club are taking registrations for the 2026 winter season. For further enquiries check the club’s Facebook page.
By Chris KARAS
You can help your local paper.
Make a small once-off, or (if you can) a regular donation.
We are an independent family owned business and our newspapers are free to collect and our news stories are free online.
Help support us into the future.
