AUSTRALIA’S hopes of a rugby union rebirth might have been smashed by the All Blacks on the weekend, but elsewhere in Queensland, Australia was getting some form of retribution against its trans-Tasman rivals.

Sporting green and gold jerseys especially for the occasion, Australia took out the RM Williams International Australia versus New Zealand Rodeo in Longreach on Saturday.

The event was part of the Longreach Muster.

The Muster entered the outback event calendar after the inaugural event was cancelled last year due to the EI outbreak.

September 11-13 saw all the action and events that have been responsible for the legend of the Australian stockman and the standard of participants this year ensured that the legend will remain alive for a long time to come.

Designed to showcase the horsemanship and stock-handling abilities of the ‘Aussie’ ringer, this RM Williams sponsored event was staged at the Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Centre, Longreach and was contested teams from the Australian Agricultural Company (AACo); Acton Land and Cattle Co; Australian Agricultural College Corporation (AACC); North Australian Pastoral Co; S Kidman and Co; Stanbroke Pastoral Co and the Williams River Cattle Company.

The international event saw riders from both Australia and New Zealand compete in various rodeo disciplines including a bull ride and bronc ride.

It was the might of the green and gold that saw the locals take out the competition.

*Full story in this week’s North Queensland Register, out Thursday.