Wigs & dresses a Geraldton rugby drawcard

Dresses, wigs and bathers could all be on the field next year as the rugby union community in Geraldton looks to get creative to make the local game bigger and better. After pulling off a successful Rugby 10s competition over the weekend, the Tiger Sharks are already planning their small-sided tournament for next year, hoping to attract teams from interstate and add novelty games to keep the competition increasing. Vice-president Eric Ofa said one way to increase interest and show the fun side of the sport could be playing in dresses and wigs, or dressed just in bathers with numbers painted on their backs. He said rugby was attracting interest from local Aussie rules players and he could see a future in the game for some of them. On a serious sporting note, the Tiger Sharks finished a credible third on home ground, with the Carnarvon Cyclones coming in fifth. Premier-grade side Palmyra ended up taking out the competition, with provincial-grade sides Nak Suu in second and Kimono Dragons in sixth, and Curtin University fourth. The plan is to invite two teams from Brisbane to next year’s tournament and add the novelty matches, Ofa said. He said the Tiger Sharks lost their game against Palmyra, who had brought a full premier-grade side up, but were the only side to score against them. “(We want) teams from different States to join us here so it will be bigger and better,” Ofa said. “We’re hoping to get a team wearing dresses, or you get a team that will wear Speedos with no shirt on and the number painted on their back. “Guys wear wigs. “The crowd love it, it’s just a crack-up. “They do it because we play to enjoy the game but also have a bit of a laugh.”