Bowral residents will have to wait 12 months longer than expected to see the NSW Waratahs on their home turf, after it was announced on Thursday that the upcoming trial match in Bowral was cancelled.
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Originally scheduled for January 30, the Waratahs were set to play the ACT Brumbies in their first fixture of any kind in Bowral.
The match was going to be hosted by local club the Bowral Blacks at their home ground.
However, on January 14, the Waratahs announced the cancellation of the match due to the government's ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
"As part of the risk mitigation plan, the Super Rugby teams, in conjunction with Rugby Australia, have agreed to reduce the number of trial games, meaning the NSW Waratahs will take on the Qld Reds in Narrabri on February 5," Waratahs media said in a statement.
The Brumbies have not yet confirmed their only trial match of the season.
News of the cancellation was disappointing, Blacks president Mark Freund said.
"Unfortunately, with COVID still going on, you never know what's going to happen from one day to the next."
However, the club acknowledged the need to protect the community as its number one priority.
"We are terribly disappointed to have to cancel this event but the safety of the public and players remains our top priority throughout this pandemic," the Blacks said in a Facebook post.
A silver lining has emerged for the Blacks in spite of the bad news: the Waratahs have promised to schedule a trial game in Bowral for 2022.
"We're looking forward to it next year," Freund said.
"We've got 12 months to plan for it now, so we'll put a lot more into it and have a bit more time to get it sorted, which will be great."
The club had spent the past month preparing for the game, and Freund was quick to thank those who assisted with their time and resources.
"A lot of hard work's gone into it and we appreciate everybody's commitment to it," he said.
In the meantime, the Blacks will continue preparations for their first home clash, which will double as a gala weekend, on March 26 and 27.
The gala will feature dinner on the Friday night with Peter Fitzsimons and Stirling Mortlock.
The Cauliflower Club will also be present over the weekend, and is scheduled to spend time with Blacks juniors on Friday afternoon before a match against Bowral's Wilted Tulips on Saturday in the lead-up to the club games.
For more information about tickets, please contact the Bowral Blacks via email at Kirralee.blake@bowralrugby.com.au.
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