ARMIDALE has welcomed the Cambridge University touring side to town but all the pleasantries go out the window for 80 minutes this evening when the Pommies face a New England Select XIII at the University of New England.

Some of Group 19’s best players, along with a host of New England Rugby Union stars, have responded to the call for players to take on the touring side.

In fact the locals are looking

formidable.

“We’ve got some big names who’ve put their hands up,” coach Mick McCarthy said.

“Fred Waters is here and Clarrie Moran and Derek Moran.

“We’ve also got the big Kiwi Mike Te Moana who played for Country (rugby union) so he’ll be handy.

“A few of the Baa Baas have put their hands up too.”

Group 19 and Warialda backrower Dan Lindsay may also make an appearance along with fellow leaguies Matt Lewis from Inverell and Kelcie Davis, who also plays for Uralla.

The rest of the side is likely to come from the University of New England rugby union clubs Robb College and the Barbarians.

It’s a rare opportunity for a local side to take on international opposition and an even more unusual event to come up against a rugby league side from one of the world’s oldest and most famous universities.

Of course the Armidale side does have a Pom in its own camp in the form of McCarthy, who played for Armidale in Group 5 and 19 but now coaches Robb College in the other code.

He hails from the gritty northern English town of Widnes, which is about as far away from the lavish surroundings of the prestigious old institution at Cambridge as one could get.

“I know they’re very good at rugby (union),” McCarthy said.

“But I used to live in England and I’ve never heard of them playing rugby league.

“But we’ll enjoy it and hopefully they’ll enjoy it too.”

Rugby league may not be something Cambridge is well-known for but the university has had a league club for nearly 30 years, having been established in 1980.

It’s also not the first time it has toured these shores.

Cambridge was in Australia in 1988 and even played a curtainraiser to the Australia versus The Rest of the World Bicentennial Test at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Sport UNE’s Consett Davis Playing Fields is a far cry from the SFS but will host tonight’s game.

The home side is keen to give the tourist a test of their own this evening.

They even trained on Monday night and again last night to get some combinations going.

“They’ve paid a lot of money to come out here on tour so we have to do the right thing for them,” McCarthy said.

“We’re just trying to get them into positions.

“With Clarrie and Freddie there they’ll control things.”

Cambridge began its tour in Brisbane where it played a local student side and will continue on to Sydney after tonight’s game for the remainder of its tour.

The game kicks off at 5.30pm with an after-match function to follow at the St Kilda Hotel.