Gunnedah Red Devils players Tim McDermott and Jean Littlewood earned selection for the NSW Country rugby union teams, which will compete in the Australian Rugby Shield (ARS) at Newcastle from October 1 to 5.
McDermott will line up in the Cockatoos men’s team while Littlewood plays in the Corellas women’s team, after they took part in trials at Maitland last month.
Squads of 26 were named for both the Cockatoos and Corellas, with players coming from the Central North, Central Coast, Central West, Illawarra, Hunter, Far North Coast and Mid North Coast regions.
McDermott and Moree’s Duncan Woods were the only Central North-based players chosen for the Cockatoos, while four were chosen for the Corellas.
The women’s squad included Littlewood as well as Narrabri duo Cass Morley and April Smith, and Tamworth Pirates player Nikki Berryman.
NSW Country will oppose other teams from NSW as well as teams from Queensland, ACT, South Australia, Tasmania and the Defence Forces.
McDermott played in last year’s ARS in Caloundra, with the Cockatoos going down 31-19 to the Queensland Country Heelers in the final.
Littlewood played from 2018 to 2022, although the 2020 competition was cancelled due to COVID.
The Corellas were runners-up in 2022 and victors in 2023 before placing third last year.
Tim McDermott will play for the NSW Country Cockatoos in the Australian Rugby Shield. Photo: Supplied.
