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Rugby League Project co-founder @madunit has been kind enough to share this article with LU today:
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2019 marks 106 years since the start of World War I and 104 years since the inception of ANZAC Day in Australia. When the Great War ended in 1919, troops returning home were not met by parades and huge fanfare, because they arrived home to a country in the grips of the Influenza epidemic, which was so bad, people were not allowed to congregate in large groups, and if they were going to be in a populated area, they had to wear face masks.
In Rugby League, vast numbers of players and even officials from all over the country, volunteered to serve and protect their nation and the Commonwealth, many of whom lost their lives.
In 1927 the NSWRL held its first ever games on ANZAC Day, when all 4 matches from Round 2 took place.
Interestingly enough, only 1 of those 8 sides and 1 of those 4 venues will be seen in the NRL on ANZAC Day in 2019, when the Roosters play at the SCG against the St.George-Illawarra Dragons.
In 1927, St.George, led by captain-coach and Immortal Frank Burge, took on the Roosters in the very first of what is now a traditional ANZAC Day match.
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The teamlists from that game, a match report and a full list of first grade rugby league matches played on April 25 since 1927 can be found by reading the full story.: https://leagueunlimited.com/news/33208-anzac-day-and-rugby-league-a-history/
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2019 marks 106 years since the start of World War I and 104 years since the inception of ANZAC Day in Australia. When the Great War ended in 1919, troops returning home were not met by parades and huge fanfare, because they arrived home to a country in the grips of the Influenza epidemic, which was so bad, people were not allowed to congregate in large groups, and if they were going to be in a populated area, they had to wear face masks.
In Rugby League, vast numbers of players and even officials from all over the country, volunteered to serve and protect their nation and the Commonwealth, many of whom lost their lives.
In 1927 the NSWRL held its first ever games on ANZAC Day, when all 4 matches from Round 2 took place.
- Balmain defeated Newtown 14-13 at Wentworth Park
- Wests defeated Glebe 12-4 at the SCG
- University defeated Norths 21-9 at North Sydney Oval
- St.George defeated Easts 23-7 at Earl Park.
Interestingly enough, only 1 of those 8 sides and 1 of those 4 venues will be seen in the NRL on ANZAC Day in 2019, when the Roosters play at the SCG against the St.George-Illawarra Dragons.
In 1927, St.George, led by captain-coach and Immortal Frank Burge, took on the Roosters in the very first of what is now a traditional ANZAC Day match.
-------------------------------------
The teamlists from that game, a match report and a full list of first grade rugby league matches played on April 25 since 1927 can be found by reading the full story.: https://leagueunlimited.com/news/33208-anzac-day-and-rugby-league-a-history/
