Peachey is in Dubbo for the finals of the David Peachey Cup, a knockout tournament in which 32 teams from schools all over the Western Region of NSW will participate in. While Widders is in his hometown of Armidale with NRL Chief Executive David Gallop launching the Books in Homes project, a not-for-profit charity reading and mentoring program aimed at helping disadvantaged children improve their literacy skills.

Peachey has returned to Dubbo for the seventh year of his knockout tournament which is a seven-a-side competition for children in years five and six. He is joined by former Rabbitoh Russell Richardson, and primary school children in years three and four play for the Russell Richardson Shield.

One of Dubbo’s favourite sons Peachey said he was happily surprised at how big a tournament the David Peachey Cup and the Russell Richardson Shield has become.

“It’s all about keeping the spirit of rugby league alive,” he said.

“It’s great the that kids have training clinics and the like but sooner or later they need to play some football and I’m glad so many children can enjoy the game of rugby league with this tournament.”

Rabbitohs John Sutton, David Kidwell, Joe Williams and Knights utility Milton Thaiday will all be there.

“It’s all about the kid meeting their role models and idols,” Peachey said.

“That’s the reason me and Russell put it together. Seven years ago we thought what can we do for the kids in the region. So we started it up and come back every year to be part of it. It is important to give something back and to talk to the kids about what we have done and to encourage them to follow their dreams too.”

The finals will take place at Dubbo’s Apex Oval where last year’s City v Country representative game was played.

Widders and Gallop are in the northern NSW town of Armidale at Widders’s old school Newling Public to present students with books in conjunction with the NRL’s One Community project.