How Kristin Dunn’s Pacific Youth Rugby Festival has grown at a collosal rate

From the moment she formed a high school girls side, Kristin Dunn’s passion for growing rugby union was fostered. READ WHAT INSPIRED HER GROUNDBREAKING FESTIVAL HERE >>

From the moment she formed a high school girls side to take the field, Kristin Dunn’s passion for growing rugby union was fostered.

Now the director of the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival has put out a call to help take the concept to even greater heights.

Sick of sitting on the sidelines and “witnessing things that probably wasn’t a positive culture” when it came to young players pursuing higher honours, Dunn envisioned the Festival to bring together a variety of cultures across Queensland.

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Such has been the growth of the competition in the past 12 months, the Festival has surged from 19 teams in 2021 to more than 40 sides featuring 950 players for this year’s spectacle in October.

The founding outfits — Queensland Kiwis, Samoa, Barbarians and Aussies — will all take part from age divisions ranging from under-10s up to under-18s in boys and girls, with other teams also travelling from New South Wales, New Zealand and Victoria to compete.

Within those squad, the youngsters get to experience their culture and what rugby means to it, performing traditional dances and celebrations on the days of battle.

Kristin Dunn, who spearheaded the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival, poses with Maicy Furner, 16, (left) of Helensvale Hogs and Tanner Hicks-Downie, 17, of Nerang Bulls team during a photo shoot at the Nerang Bulls rugby ground, Gold Coast, Sunday, August, 28, 2022. Photo: Regi Varghese, Gold Coast

Dunn, who is on the Nerang Bulls committee as womens and girls coordinator, has juggled the increasing demand of hosting the carnival with the responsibilities of being a single mum of three, but has been fuelled by a desire to revive grassroots rugby union, which took a hit once the pandemic reared its head.

Speaking at a trial session for the Queensland Barbarians sides who would take part, with 350 prospective talents taking part, she said ultimately the goal was to continuing increasing the number of teams, age groups and participants while take the concept interstate.

To achieve such a vision, support from rugby’s governing bodies and major sponsors will be required to capitalise on the immense impact she has already seen the Festival have on the athletes.

“I’ve got a 12 year old boy and six month old twins as a single mum. But I have amazing support, my family is very supportive and passionate about doing this and giving these kids these opportunities,” Dunn said.

“What got the wheels turning was I was a parent of a child who played rugby, and I was witnessing things that probably wasn’t a positive culture from the sidelines.

“You get into rep trials and to avoid the preselections that were occurring (this would) give children more of an opportunity to be on the field.

“Whether we take it on the road well see, my goal is to be able to host in different states and build that way. At the moment we’ve got two states travelling to us, it’d be great if in 2024 I could get our Queensland teams travelling down to these states that are participating.

“It’s just being more inclusive for everyone — inclusive for their nation, their culture, but rugby union as well so everyone is getting the opportunity to be able to experience it.”

Kristin Dunn who spearheaded the Pacific Youth Rugby Festival during a photo shoot at the Nerang Bulls rugby ground, Gold Coast, Sunday, August, 28, 2022. Photo: Regi Varghese, Gold Coast

Where Dunn was seen the most significant growth has been in the women’s space.

Last year the Festival only had an under-14s outlet, but now an under-16s series will take place with an under-18s set to follow next year.

Dunn said the hope was that a Festival of this nature would help retain prospective rugby players in the code, and pave the way for a women’s 15-a-side season to at last grace the Gold Coast.

“That’s where my passion is, building the girls rugby on the Gold Coast. We only have a sevens competition, I want to see us build to 12s and hopefully a 15s comp,” she said.

“This Festival is 15-a-side so it allows the girls to play 15 a side rugby which they’re not usually exposed to, especially in Southeast Queensland.

“That’s’ going to take time, but I want to build that and set those foundations.”

Due to the amount of fields needed to support the growth, the Pacific Youth Festival will take place on the Sunshine Coast from October 28-30, with an expected return to the Glitter Strip next year.