ON 29 June the Southern Cross University Marlins Rugby Union Club held their annual cultural and children’s day at Leisure Park, Coffs Harbour.

The day featured games from u14 boys and girls games right up to first grade, in which the Marlins defeated Grafton Redmen 24-21.

A Welcome to Country and traditional smoking ceremony was performed by Troy ‘Robbo’ Robinson, while the kids from Giingana Gumbaynggirr Freedom School performed a series of traditional dances.

The Marlins are one of the most culturally diverse sporting clubs on the Mid North Coast with players from Fiji, Philippines, Italy, Tonga, New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Ireland, as well as their Indigenous Australian players.

“We are a diverse group of people who have come together with a common goal to play for each other and better ourselves through the great game of rugby union,” Club President Chris Rowthorne said.

“My personal highlight this year was seeing the next generation of kids who play Friday nights walking through the tunnel hand in hand with our first grade players, who were wearing a specially designed jersey featuring art from local Indigenous artist Chris Gray with Robbo performing the smoking ceremony.”

In addition to cultural ceremonies there were activities for the children including face painting, running races and pass-the-ball contests.

The day was very well attended with over 750 people in attendance.

At the conclusion of the game a circle of all players from both Grafton and the Marlins celebrated the occasion with a traditional Fijian song.