Bathurst 2
LCJRU Minis Road Trip
Bathurst Tour
A proud Lane Cove rugby tradition: kids, families, country footy, cold mornings, big smiles and a weekend everyone remembers.
A Minis Tradition
The Bathurst Tour is LCJRU Minis at its best: a Central West NSW road trip, a family weekend away and a gala day against clubs we do not usually get to play. It is brilliant for the kids, easy for new families to join, and one of those club weekends that feels bigger than the games.
Pack the boots, the beanie and the club colours. Bathurst is where the Minis become rugby tourists.
2026 Tour
Saturday–Sunday, 5–6 September 2026 is locked in. The tour is open to LCJRU’s U6–U9 players and U10 siblings. Because Central West clubs play U6, U8 and U10 divisions, Lane Cove combines age groups to form its touring squads.
Who Plays
All U6–U9 players are welcome. U10 siblings are welcome too—please speak with the U9 managers so they can be included in squad planning.
The Weekend
Families head down after Saturday sport. The kids can have an informal kick-around at Bathurst Rugby Club from 5:00 pm, with any structured training still TBC by age group. The bar opens at 6:00 pm and dinner at the Bathurst Bulldogs’ clubhouse begins at 6:30 pm. Sunday is a full morning of games against Central West clubs.
Why It Is Great
The kids get out of their comfort zone, meet new opponents and play rugby in a proper country gala day setting. For parents, Saturday night is a relaxed chance to have a drink, catch up and meet other Minis families while siblings come along too.
What To Pack
- Warm layers and a beanie
- T-shirts, in case the weather is good to us again!
- A full-length winter jacket if you have one
- Boots, mouthguard, water bottle and club kit
Recent years have been kind to us with sunshine, but Bathurst can still be cold.
Join the Bathurst Tour group for updates, questions and family logistics. A dinner booking and game RSVP link is coming soon.
2026 FAQs
We will add pricing, squad details and the Sunday draw as arrangements are confirmed. Join the WhatsApp group for the quickest updates.
Who can attend and play?
All LCJRU U6–U9 players are welcome. U10 siblings are also welcome; please speak with the U9 managers so they can be included in planning.
How will squads be formed?
Squads will be created once we know attendance. Central West clubs play U6, U8 and U10 divisions, so Lane Cove combines age groups to form its touring squads. Playing up is a genuine challenge and a memorable rite of passage for our young players.
How do we register?
Book/RSVP your player(s) and for dinner here. Join the Bathurst Tour WhatsApp group to stay up to date with further info.
What will it cost?
Families book and pay for their own accommodation. Rydges Mount Panorama is offering our group a 10% discount on ~$220 for a King Studio. Dinner pricing is $40 per adult and $20 per child.
Do we have to stay at Rydges?
No. Rydges Mount Panorama is recommended so touring families can stay together, but it is not mandatory. Families book and pay directly. A booking link with the 10% group discount is coming; in the meantime, call the LCJRU group-booking line on (02) 9161 5163.
Is Saturday training compulsory?
Structured training remains TBC for each age group. The kids are welcome to have an informal kick-around at Bathurst Rugby Club from 5:00 pm; bring boots and comfortable club training gear if they would like to join in. Late arrivals can go directly to the clubhouse. The bar opens at 6:00 pm and dinner begins at 6:30 pm.
What is the Sunday schedule?
The gala will run on Sunday morning. Player arrival time, first kick-off and the expected finish are TBC and will be shared in the WhatsApp group once the host club releases the draw.
What should players bring?
Bring LCJRU shorts and socks, boots, a mouthguard, water bottle, warm layers, a beanie and a full-length winter jacket if you have one. LCJRU match jerseys will be supplied.
Are dietary requirements catered for?
Yes. Families will be able to provide dietary requirements through the dinner booking form when it is released.
What happens if the weather is poor?
Any weather-related changes or cancellations will be posted in the Bathurst Tour WhatsApp group as soon as the host club confirms them.
Tour History
Every year adds another layer: new friendships, country opponents, hotel corridors full of Minis energy and Sunday mornings that start cold and finish loud.
2025: Bathurst Bulldogs Host The Minis
On 30-31 August 2025, nearly 99 LCJRU members travelled to Bathurst for a big weekend hosted by the Bathurst Bulldogs. The kids played Dubbo, Orange City, Canowindra and Molong, with Bathurst rallying families from Dubbo, Orange, Molong, Cowra, Canowindra, Forbes, Wellington and Lane Cove. Saturday night was a club dinner at the Rydges function room with a buffet, followed by a full Sunday morning of games.
2024: Sun, Noise And A Big Saturday Dinner
The 2024 tour ran on 17-18 August. Rain was promised and sunshine arrived instead. Families were bused to the Panthers Bathurst clubhouse for a fun, noisy Saturday dinner, and Caroline Hobbs kept the weekend running on time with a smile.
2023: Rydges, RSL And John Maynard Field
On 19-20 August 2023, Bathurst Rugby Club hosted Central West clubs, LCJRU and Chatswood Junior. Thirty Lane Cove Minis represented the club, staying at Rydges Mount Panorama, heading to the Bathurst RSL for the club dinner and playing the Gala Day at John Maynard Field, Kelso.
2019: Thermals And Tiny Tourists
By July 2019, Bathurst had already shown us what a proper cold-weather Minis trip could feel like. Will and Teddy Longley turned out in thermals before their U6 game, with Teddy actually still in U4s. Since then, September has proved a better time of year, but those early cold trips helped set the tone for a tradition.
2018: Frosty Early Days
The Bathurst stories stretch back at least to 2018, when the Minis ran around on a frosty, foggy field that looked a long way from Tantallon. It is one of the earliest Bathurst memories in the club archive, and a pretty good reminder of why the warm layers matter.
