Old Bar Tavern owner Mark O’Neill is backing the concept. He’s invited the Country Rugby League chief executive Terry Quinn, Richard Jones from the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and Group Three officials Kevin Hardy and Barrie Smith to today’s meeting to discuss the logistics. If Mr Quinn is unable to attend, the CRL will be represented by regional development manager Kevin Hill.

Mr O’Neill took over the tavern this year. He is a former player with the Gloucester and Wingham Hotel clubs in the days of the Group Three Saturday League. He is confident a tournament – playing either nines or sevens, can become a regular feature of the rugby league landscape in this area.

“I’d be looking at playing pool matches at Old Bar, at the reserve and possibly the Trad Fields if needed,’’ he said.

Mr O’Neill said teams will be invited from Groups Three, Two and Four, however, it would be open to any club in the Country Rugby League area or even the city.

“We’d charge $200 or $300 nomination, with the money going to prizemoney and the Westpac Rescue Service,’’ he said.

Mr O’Neill said no decision has yet been made on whether the format would be nines or sevens.

“I’m hoping to get some input from the CRL and Group Three on what they think would be the most popular. Sevens would probably make it easier for clubs to enter more sides, but that’s something we’ll talk about on Wednesday,’’ he said.

“I want to make sure I don’t clash with any established events in the CRL and I’d want a bit of an idea when the Group Three competition will kick off next year, so we can work in with them.’’

He knows that the Old Bar Reserve and Trad Fields are both used extensively for cricket.

“So we probably won’t be able to have goal posts up, but I don’t think that’s a major worry – we just won’t have kicks for goal,’’ he said.

Mr O’Neill said he plans to make the tournament an annual event and he remains confident it will get strong support.