Travel Tips

In 2003, the Rugby World Cup, was held in Australia. Participating for the first time was the country of Georgia. I was asked to write an article for their main sports newspaper. Here is a scan of the page, and yes that is a photo of me in the lower half! As to the article read on....(note that this is protected by copyright and absolutely no reproduction without prior acceptance) (not that you would want to reproduce it!).

Rugby is a great game. Back when the first World Cup Final was staged in 1987, it took place in Sydney and drew a crowd of just over 17,000. New Zealand were crowned World Champions. Amateurs played the game; they played for no financial gain, for the sheer love of their sport. In the 2003 World Cup, every single game will attract a crowd larger than 17,000- all 48 of them. The players are now professionals. In the case of the favourites England, each team member stands to win a bonus of 66,000 pounds, on top of all their other match payments, if they are crowned World Cup champions. A lot has happened in the last 16 years.

All that I can remember about that World Cup in 1987, is that Australia lost to France in a close semi-final. That’s it. Since then with every 4 years that has passed, a new World Cup has taken place, and with each one, increasingly more wonderful memories have been created. You see it’s not simply that I am getting older, to truly understand you must realize that this game of Rugby is continually changing. It has now becoming one of the most watched spectator sports in the world. As the World Cup reaches more and more people, the result has seen competitions forming in new countries and a resulting army of new supporters everywhere.

But what makes Rugby a great game. Is it the players, the game, the skills, the spectators? It is all of these and more. However, as with any great sport, the game itself is only made popular if the people chose to make it so. Firstly, to understand Rugby, watch a game at the highest level. It is entertainment at its best. It can be fast then slow, dramatic, moments of individual brilliance, sheer aggression, and brute strength. Secondly in appreciating Rugby, is to understand the type of person who watches the game. The person who likes to witness great physical and mental feats, to experience the rollercoaster of emotion, an appreciation of a hard fought contest, will be a rugby fan. To that fan it’s not just about your team, it’s about the game, the way and the spirit it is played in. We are there to enjoy the game, and we do. We enjoy a great contest.

So here we are in 2003. We are nearing the end of the pool games in the World Cup and there have been no unpredictable results. Some scorelines have been closer than what has been expected, but the favourites have won each time. Us Australians have had the opportunity to see for the first time the minnows of Namibia, Uruguay, and Georgia; compete in their first ever World Cup. We know there is a large gap between the more established playing nations and the newer ones, but it is not why record crowds watch every game. Just look at any game and see the fans. From the young children to the elderly supporters, whether faces painted or flags waiving, the game appeals to all ages.

During this World Cup the ARU (Australian Rugby Union), has encouraged Australians to support a second team. This was an easy decision for me. Georgia- a country I had visited for a month just over 2 years ago and had left me with a lot of great memories. So 2 days after the World Cup started, I decided I should purchase a Georgian Rugby jersey to show who I support. Well it wasn’t as easy as you’d think, but for all the right reasons! I spoke to IAG, the company in charge of marketing the merchandise for the World Cup. They advised me that nearly every shirt, jersey, etc.

that they had made in Georgian Rugby colours had been sold out. Very popular! So with that I made some quick phone calls, and managed to locate a Georgian Rugby Jersey, at the IRB (International Rugby Board) Superstore, set up solely for the World Cup. It is located in a very popular shopping and social part of Sydney close to the CBD called Darling Harbour. It is here in Darling Harbour that I also receive my first taste of this year's Rugby World Cup.

Opening night I ventured together with some friends to one of the many bars that line this part of Sydney. Television screens around this large bar surrounded us, so no matter where you stood you could see the game. There was such a large crowd of people that it was impossible to move anyway. All different nationalities were there, in their nations colours. The green and gold of my home country was everywhere of course, but apart form the light blue and white of our Argentinean opposition that night, their was the green of Ireland, the Red and White jerseys of England, The blue tops of the French, the All Black supporters (New Zealanders). But the difference with Rugby is that you can do this. All were talking to each other, laughing, having a beer, despite whatever political or social differences their countries may have, they are here to see a contest and to enjoy every aspect of that contest. I met many interesting people, with their stories of how they had traveled to be here for the World Cup. Australia did win that night, but it was not a great win. Most Australians don’t expect us to do well this year. We do have a good chance, but our team hasn’t been good enough this year, and we accept that.

A few nights later I ventured to the popular Sydney seaside suburb of Manly, in Sydney. The moment had arrived. Georgia v England. I went to “The South Steyne” pub. I went by myself wearing my Georgian jersey. But it was not obvious to anyone there that I was not actually Georgian. I was the sole Georgian supporter there amongst about 100 English supporters in their colours. By the time the 80 minutes of Rugby was over, I had talked to many people, made friends, laughed, had drinks bought for me, and enlightened several people about the great country that is Georgia.

So what a great achievement when Georgia played South Africa this Friday passed, and performed so admirably, managing to score a try and not have a repeat of the scoreline they suffered to England, all Australians cheered loud and strong. A cheer that I am sure was heard throughout Georgia.

Many late nights already have occurred in this World Cup and there will be many more. I am now in a different part of Australia called the Gold Coast, and the story is no different. People getting together from all different backgrounds, enjoying each other’s company, enjoying the great contests of Rugby. We understand what a monumental achievement it is for all of the smaller countries, against the odds, to make it to the Rugby World Cup and one that every Australian appreciates. To be here and participating is a great thing. It’s not whether you win each time you walk out onto the playing field- Australians truly appreciate that fact. But isn’t making it to the World Cup winning in itself? Of course the answer is yes.