AUSTRALIA DAY CHALLENGE :: 26 Jan :: Rabbitohs 24 Rhinos 26 @ Florida, USA

[Timmah]

:? So why not copy, paste and link it here?

WHY JACKSONVILLE MAY WANT A PIECE OF LEAGUE ACTION
Brad Walter in Jacksonville | January 25, 2008

Just two weeks ago South Sydney officials were fearing their bold venture into the US would be a $300,000 flop but with this weekend's match against Leeds almost guaranteed a full house and Channel Nine set to broadcast it, the Rabbitohs are considering making the pre-season pilgrimage an annual event.

While rugby league can never hope to compete with American football on its home turf, Souths have found a niche in Jacksonville, and officials were in discussions on Wednesday about how they could increase the 10,000 capacity of Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida.

With ticket sales almost trebling in the past fortnight to 7500, the inaugural Australia Day Challenge will set a new attendance record at the ground that was initially built as a training venue when the city hosted the 2005 Super Bowl.

Among those in the crowd will be Australian sporting greats Greg Norman and Layne Beachley, while Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe is due to fly in on Saturday.

Thousands of other fans are also expected to converge on Jacksonville for the match, and many - noticeable by their Souths jerseys, scarves and jackets - have already arrived, helping to provide an estimated $5 million economic boost the city is likely to want to see repeated on a regular basis.

"The total budget for this is about $300,000, and when over the Christmas-New Year period ticket sales dried up and we thought 3000 fans was going to be the maximum, we would have we got all nervous but we're now very close to breaking even, and if you can do that while giving your players an incredible experience, that's a worthwhile exercise," Souths executive chairman Peter Holmes a Court said.

"We're also giving Virgin Blue, Armani and our other existing sponsors some exposure here while providing an opportunity for a new sponsor in SydneyAustralia.com. I think people will continue to take a swing at us for doing this given how small rugby league is in America but the reality is that we're only seeking a minute slice of the 300 million people who live here, and more people play rugby union in America than play rugby union in Australia so there is a base of understanding about the game."

For those who don't know anything about league, The Florida Times-Union newspaper ran a story explaining the rules, roles of each player and other aspects about the game on the front page of Wednesday's sports liftout, accompanied by a large photo of David Fa'alogo being tackled by Nigel Vagana during a training drill.

Former Rabbitohs international Mark Carroll also provided publicity for the game during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, while the match features on the cover of the January edition of Jacksonville Buzz Entertainment Magazine - although one of the photos used in the accompanying two-page article is of Penrith's Luke Lewis being tackled by Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan.

A media conference featuring Holmes a Court, Souths coach Jason Taylor, co-captains Roy Asotasi and David Kidwell and their Leeds counterparts on Wednesday was broadcast live on sports radio station 10-10 XL, which will call the game live.

The match may also be televised in the US, as well as in Australia and Britain. "It's going to be a co-production between Channel Nine and the South Sydney Rabbitohs," Holmes a Court said. "We're still in negotiations today but I'm pretty sure it will happen. They are coming … but we've got to deliver a game for them, we've got to deliver a professionally run event, and then we'll be in a position to do a deal."

Regardless of what happens on the field, however, the biggest star at Souths is Crowe, and his involvement with the club is a major drawcard for Americans. "There's a whole bunch of us coming to the game who go on the Russell Crowe internet boards to have a chat," said Canadian Carol Stevens, who has seen the Rabbitohs play in Sydney. "We're all going to meet up before the game, and we'll all be sitting together in our South Sydney colours - you won't be able to miss us."

http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/new...1201157560457.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

 

[flamin]

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=49301

From Jacksonville's Financial News and Daily Record

Rugby match brings international spotlight

by Max Marbut

Staff Writer

Wednesday didn’t mark the first time TV stations and reporters assembled at the Landing for a press conference, but it was the first time since the Super Bowl that Jacksonville was the center of attention for a worldwide sports audience.

England’s Leeds Rhinos and Australia’s South Sydney Rabbitohs were on hand for a press conference and to meet fans who are anticipating the teams’ International Rugby League exhibition match, “The Australia Day Challenge,” scheduled for Saturday at the University of North Florida.

Local media outlets were joined by journalists and videographers from Australia’s two largest television networks, ESPN Australia and Sydney’s two daily newspapers: the Daily Telegraph and Morning Herald.

United Kingdom representatives included the BBC, Yorkshire Television and “every major newspaper in the U.K.,” according to Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington.

He described his impression of the pre-match hospitality and practice facilities as “superb” and added, “The teams are really enjoying it and so are our corporate sponsors who have traveled here to be with us.”

One thing that hasn’t been publicized this week is how the South Sydney team got its name. Jeremy Monahan, the team’s media and communications manager, explained.

Apparently, at the turn of the century when the team was founded (it celebrates its 100th birthday this year), there were men who lived around Sydney who hunted rabbits and sold them in the streets. They would announce their presence and available inventory by calling out “rabbitoh.” When a customer purchased a hare for dinner, it was skinned on the spot and ready for the pot.

Also, Monahan continued, early in the 20th century some of South Sydney’s players made extra money in the rabbit trade while wearing their uniforms and would go to matches direct from the street. When their opponents saw the blood and fur that was left on the players following the street-level field dressing, they would make fun of Souths and call them “rabbitohs.” The name stuck.

A depiction of the unique form of historical Australian commerce is included to this day on the team’s logo.

Australian wildlife lore aside, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Sports and Entertainment Coordinator Mike Bouda said the event has brought the City an amount of international publicity that would be difficult to quantify. It also didn’t take a large investment.

The City awarded a $2,500 grant in April 2007 to the Jacksonville Axemen, a local rugby team, that was matched by the Florida Sports Foundation to help fund the team’s second season and last August’s American Rugby League National Championship Match.

The season and league title match were a success, and that got the attention of actor Russell Crowe, co-owner of the Rabbitohs. One thing led to another, and the culmination of efforts will be capped by Saturday’s match that has captured an international audience of rugby fans.

Bouda said international rugby is in its infancy as a sport in America, but it is big business in England and Australia. He expects the exposure to have a long-term positive impact on the city.

“Without this event, the rugby world wouldn’t even know where Jacksonville is,” he said. “We consider getting this event a coup, and the more things we can host like this, the better off we’ll be.”

 

[yobbo84]

Souths Team for the Australia Day Challenge:

1. Beau Champion
2. Shannon Hegarty
3. Yileen Gordon
4. Fetuli Talanoa
5. Germaine Paulson
6. Ben Rogers
7. Eddie Paea
8. Michael Greenfield
9. Issac Luke
10. Manase Manuokafoa
11. Ben Lowe
12. Luke Stuart (c)
13. John Sutton
14. Beau Falloon
15. George Ndaira
16. Jaiman Lowe
17. Eddy Pettybourne
18. Shannan McPherson
19. Jamie Simpson
20. Sam Huihahau
21. Nathanael Barnes
22. John Taminika

Head Coach - Jason Taylor

Source: http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Rabbitohs-team-announced.html

 

[Timmah]

1. Brent Webb
2. Scott Donald
3. Clinton Toopi
4. Keith Senior
5. Lee Smith
6. Danny McGuire
7. Rob Burrow
8. Kylie Leuluai
9. Matt Diskin
10. Jamie Peacock
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan
12. Gareth Ellis
13. Kevin Sinfield (c)

Substitutes
14. Ali Lauitiiti
17. Nick Scruton
18. Ian Kirke
19. Carl Ablett
20. Ashley Gibson
21. Jordan Tansey
22. Ryan Hall
23. Danny Williams
24. Luke Burgess
26. Ben Kaye
30. Michael Haley

 

[Timmah]

Australia Day Challenge live
24 Jan 2008

The Australia Day Challenge between the Rabbitohs and UK Super League champions the Leeds Rhinos will be streamed live on Jacksonville radio station Jax Sports at www.1010xl.com at 5am this Sunday morning January 27 (AEDT).

The match is being recorded by the South Sydney Football Club and the Channel Nine Network for delayed broadcast. (The schedule of which is yet to be determined.)

We have received countless enquires from Rabbitohs fans in regards to the screening of the game and at this stage the only place to get live coverage of the game is from www.1010xl.com.

Tune in and enjoy the Rabbitohs first hit out for 2008, our Centenary Season.

http://www.rabbitohs.com.au/News/Club-News/Australia-Day-Challenge-live.html

 

[Monk]

wow, based on the teams, i wouldnt be surprised if Leeds put 50 on the bunnies

 

[innsaneink]

Australia Day Challenge
Rugby League hits the United States of America

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS v LEEDS RHINOS​

Hodges Stadium, University of North Florida, Jackonsville FL, USA
Saturday 26 January 2008 :: Kickoff 1:00pm American Eastern Time​

Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=30.270854,-81.506753&spn=0.027576,0.057077&t=h&z=15&om=0​

Gameday Information: www.australiadaychallenge.com​

REFEREE TBA
Sideline Officials: TBA​

South Sydney lineup
1. Beau Champion
2. Shannon Hegarty, 3. Yileen Gordon, 4. Fetuli Talanoa, 5. Germaine Paulson
6. Ben Rogers, 7. Eddie Paea
8. Michael Greenfield, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Manase Manuokafoa
11. Ben Lowe, 12. Luke Stuart (c)
13. John Sutton

Int - 14. Beau Falloon, 15. George Ndaira, 16. Jaiman Lowe, 17. Eddy Pettybourne
Reserves - 18. Shannan McPherson, 19. Jamie Simpson, 20. Sam Huihahau, 21. Nathanael Barnes, 22. John Taminika

Leeds lineup
1. Brent Webb
2. Scott Donald, 3. Clinton Toopi, 4. Keith Senior, 5. Lee Smith
6. Danny McGuire, 7. Rob Burrow
8. Kylie Leuluai, 9. Matt Diskin, 10. Jamie Peacock
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan, 12. Gareth Ellis
13. Kevin Sinfield (c)

Int - 14. Ali Lauitiiti, 17. Nick Scruton, 18. Ian Kirke, 19. Carl Ablett
Reserves - 20. Ashley Gibson, 21. Jordan Tansey, 22. Ryan Hall, 23. Danny Williams, 24. Luke Burgess, 26. Ben Kaye, 30. Michael Haley​

Good to see youre finally formatting properly

 

[Timmah]

Had been right through the finals series and before IIRC ;-)

 

[***MH***]

kick off time has been pushed back to 1:30pm (jax time) [5:30am Sydney time]

 

[Monk]

ahhhhhh, anyone else wake up early to listen 2 the game???

 

[Rocky Rabbit]

just making sure im on the right channel you just click on the Listen Live at the top of the site. Thats right isnt it???

 

[***MH***]

yep

 

[Monk]

http://1010xl.com/player.html

pretty sure this is the right one
so if thats the one u got

 

[Rocky Rabbit]

Thanks guys :thumb

Im on it but hadnt heard the words Rugby League so wasnt sure

How desperate are we for some League getting up and listening to these americans

 

[Monk]

very desperate...
but id rather watch the game with no sound then listen to it...
but im looking fwd to the game...
just wish it would start allready

 

[***MH***]

broadcast has started now

 

[Frederick]

"Australia Day RUGBY Challenge" ](*,)

 

[Monk]

who are the commentators???
'international rugby league'

 

[Frederick]

Leeds out on the field

 

[Frederick]

Souths out on field