By Joshua Papanikolaou (PSG Staff)
The Crofts family made the journey more than halfway across the country as a party of six in their four-wheel drive to support the youngest twins Thomas and Natasha competing at the 2017 Pacific School Games.
Parents of the pair, Anthony and Sam, made the 28-hour drive from Perth to Adelaide with all four of their children for a week of watching the youngest twins represent WA and captain their teams in the touch football competition.
Older brother William has also been a part of the action as a referee and is being assessed for his level three certificate at the 10th edition of the Games.
“We’re driving across, the whole family and there’s actually six of us as William has a twin sister as well,” Sam said with a laugh before the journey to Adelaide.
“We’ve just got the one car, the Patrol, so we’ll take three days to come across and then on the way back just two, so Tom and Tash can get back for their last day of school as they finish year six.”
Over 4000 students from 10 countries have made their way to Adelaide for the Games that have previously hosted star athletes such as Rugby Sevens player Ellia Green who won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Both children represent Perth Brothers Touch Association on Saturday mornings, playing in the same team, and also play for the Ellenbrook Rabbitohs during the week.
Earlier this year Thomas, who has played rugby union since he was five, was selected to play for Western Australia at the under 12 state schoolboys for rugby league, and was the captain of the team.
“They play quite a bit of sport and especially Thomas during the winter he plays both league and union,” their mother Sam explained.
“He had quite a few of his mates join him in summer to go and play tough football, this is their third season.”
The family is originally from Canberra and moved to the other side of Australia after Anthony was transferred when he was in the defence force.
Natasha played rugby union in under 7s and after taking a break from the sport to play netball with her friends at Arbor Grove Primary School she has come back to playing rugby and touch football this year.
“Yeah this has been her biggest season, before that she sort of laid low, but has really come out of the box and started to shine,” Sam said of her youngest daughter.
“Both her and Thomas on Saturday play in a team together and this year she wanted to trial for the state schoolgirls team.
“This year she has jumped in the team with Thomas in that little local competition and has gone from there.
“They actually play very well together, they’re very close.”
The touch football competition runs through to Saturday 9 December.