Some savvy recruiting via Facebook has pitched the classy French flair and muscle into the Barron Trinity Bulls for Saturday’s grand final in Cairns.
The world of rugby is more connected than ever and Bulls stalwart Damien Spann has proved it in a way that some professional clubs might envy.
It’s amazing the magnet that country rugby, some discount accommodation, work as an arborist and the fun of Cairns can be for backpackers.
In short, six French players landed at the club this year as a result.
Flyhalf Aime Lieutaud, backrower Benoit Herisse and centre Tom Benoit have all lapped up a season playing in the Far North Queensland competition.
They will be trumps in key positions when the underdog Bulls try to end the JCU Mariners’ quest for a fourth straight premiership in the Rainforestation Cup from 6pm Saturday.
“It’s crazy. Connecting on Facebook through a rugby vacancies page got the ball rolling,” Spann said.
“Flyhalves like Aime are gold in country rugby and Benoit has arguably been the best backrower in the comp this year. Tom realised the difference between elegant French rugby and amateur grassroots rugby when he was cleaned out at a ruck for the first time. He’s been all in.
“The boys have embraced country rugby from budgy smugglers through to their own French verse after we give three cheers to our opponents coming off the field.”
The end result has been an upbeat season for the Bulls with A grade, reserve grade and the women’s team all in Saturday’s grand finals at Barlow Park.
The travel bug gets in the way sometimes. Centre Benoit has been travelling Australia with his young family for a few weeks. Spann has found the money to fly him back from Uluru just for the grand final before he links up with his family again.
Herisse is also flying back from Sydney for the grand final after slipping away for some travel weeks before taking up a job offer in France.
Club supporters Alan and Talitha Ainsley have helped out the backpackers with aboriculture work through their Tree Arrangements business.
For Spann, there’s the chance to retire on a high at 35 when he leads the reserve grade side as captain-coach from his position in the pack.
“I had a few years out of rugby because of kids, Covid, business and my wife and I dealing with some health and injury issues,” Spann said.
“I just felt I wanted one last crack when I came back last year. Seeing the club in such good health with player depth and a good relationship between the grades is great.”
There’ll be a “Fidow” name you might recognise in reserve grade with him. It’s Tony Fidow, kid brother of NRL ace Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, who is a top tackling backrower.
Club President-A Grade coach Bart Giles is another club stalwart who has found a way to mix his love of family and rugby.
“My one-year-old Isabella had her first birthday out of town in Port Douglas on a rugby trip this year” Giles said.
“Somehow, you make it work. The club is really doing well. We are one of the few rugby clubs in the region with their own facility (at Machans Beach) and we’re going to develop our clubhouse,” Giles said.
“The French players have been a good spine for us and we are proud of the way local youngsters like Dylan Richards, Ethan Phillips and Jaxson McKenzie are kicking on too.”
