Australia Day Challenge: South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Leeds Rhinos

[Dakink]

Another Pearler - especially if Rusty gets heavily involved (he will). His profile could ensure a massive crowd there!

Whata boost to the game in the USA and congrats to both Leeds and the Bunnies

Leeds Rhinos will today announce an unlikely link-up with Russell Crowe after the Oscar-winning actor gave his enthusiastic backing to a partnership between the Yorkshire side and South Sydney, the Australian club he took over last year. This will include a joint pre-season training camp in the United States this winter, regular exchanges of off-field staff and possibly players - and every chance of Crowe making an appearance at Headingley later this summer when he is in England to shoot a Robin Hood film in which he will reportedly play the Sheriff of Nottingham.

"Russell and his co-owner, Peter Holmes ? Court, are very keen on promoting the South Sydney brand across the world and this is another step along the way," said Shane Richardson, the Souths' chief executive who previously worked at Hull and Gateshead Thunder. "People in England probably don't realise what a huge fan he is of rugby league in general as well as South Sydney in particular and, as his wife's family are from Nether Poppleton [near York], he's delighted to align himself with a club from Yorkshire.

"Both clubs are excited about the benefits we're going to get from working together, in terms of on- and off-field expertise and merchandising as well as the possibility of both senior and junior players getting experience on the other side of the world.
"The American training camp is an added bonus.

Leeds have been out to Jacksonville in January before and said the weather and facilities were excellent and whether we go to Florida or another state campus we'll be looking to put a match on which with Russell's involvement must have a good chance of grabbing some attention out there."
The Leeds chief executive, Gary Hetherington, added: "This is a first in rugby league and an exciting and innovative development for both clubs. We each have a proud history and this is a new way to take our clubs forward in the global market."

[SuperCliffy#01]

Well, well to all those doomslingers who fought like hell to prevent the Galdiator and Peter Holme a hyphen, bet they have egg on their faces, this would never have happened during Piggin's reign.:test:

[PROMETHEUS]

"Spray a dog turd with gold paint,its still a dog turd."

:eyebrow:

[Dakink]

In what is looming a a fantastic promotion for TGG in the USA;

From the Daily Jacksonville Financial News website

Quote:
The TDC also approved a $25,000 grant to help promote the Jan. 26 rugby match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs of Australia and the Leeds Rhinos of England at the University of North Florida. Daryl Howland is the owner and general manager of the Jacksonville Axemen, the local rugby club that will serve as the host club for the Rhinos and the Rabbitohs. Howland said through very little promotional work ? primarily that of Rabbitohs owner Russell Crowe making appearances on Monday Night Football and ?The Jay Leno Show? ? ticket sales for the match are going well. ?Without any major public relations, we have sold over 2,100 of the 9,300 available tickets,? said Howland, adding that 631 have been sold outside Florida, 576 in 38 other states and 69 in seven other countries.
Howland said he expects both a big international crowd as well as an international media presence.
?I am confident both the United Kingdom and Australian press will come over for the event in person,? he said, adding there will be a press conference the day of the match at the Landing.
Howland said Jacksonville is rapidly becoming the home for rugby in the United States. He said an Australian police team has talked about coming to Jacksonville to train.
?If the match is successful, I believe Jacksonville could become the site for future (international matches). Jacksonville has the infrastructure and the history,? said Howland. He also said he has partnered with the Jaguars. Through that partnership, the Jan. 26 match is being marketed through the Jaguars? marketing list. ?This is a way to put their brand into the international countries.?
Howland was asked what Jacksonville was getting into with the Rhinos and Rabbitohs. He explained that Crowe grew up an avid Rabbitohs fans and bought the team in an effort to restore it to its glory years.
?Basically, he makes movies to fund the Rabbitohs and his band,? said Howland. ?Leeds just won the equivalent of the Super Bowl. It?s one of the most high-profile rugby clubs in the world. There was a large spike in ticket sales after they won the championship.?

Kudos to Crowe who has really put his money where his mouth is!!

Like him or not he is doing his utmost best for the Bunnies and League.

[Dakink]

From LU

You should all be able to at least hear the game live due to this. Click on the website link and see if the "Listen Live" button works for you. Then send the station a quick e-mail saying you will be tuning in on game day.

After meetings between Spinner Howland from the Axemen and Steve Griffin and Tom McManus a deal has been struck to make Jacksonville Sport Radio Station 1010XL, the official sports radio station for the Australia Day Challenge.
The partnership will allow for fans all over the world to listen to the game live via the streaming ability at the www.1010xl.com website in addition hearing it in the Jacksonville area at 1010am on the radio dial.
Both Steve and Tom, along with a number of other 1010XL personalities and staff, have been huge fans and supporters of the Jacksonville Axemen and the sport of Rugby League for the past 2 years and this commitment only goes to prove their desire to put local Jacksonville sporting events first.
In addition to the game day broadcast, they will also do a live remote broadcast from 11am until 3pm at the media day press conference that will be held on Wednesday, Jan 23rd, at the Jacksonville Landing. Tom McManus and Rick Ballou will be onsite for their “Mac and Ballou” show to meet fans and give updates about the conference and the teams activities during the show. We encourage everyone visiting Jacksonville to put this event on your calendar and be sure to say hello to both the guys. The press conference will get underway at approx 11.30am.
Tom will also continue his duties with the Australia Day Challenge as the co-commentator with a “yet to be named” Rugby League expert. Tom McManus is a former professional football player that played as a linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars. His no nonsense, tough as nails style of play calling will be a great addition to the game and with his American Football background, he will be great in calling the game that will be more familiar to the American based fans. This will be a huge step in allowing the American public the chance to understand and appreciate Rugby League to its full extent.
We encourage all the local fans to tune into 1010XL and for those international fans, you should visit the www.1010xl.com site to make sure you can “listen live” and send the guys a note letting them know you will be listening on game day.

Great way to also develop fans - using a local NFL caller with a League expert to explain the game to the locals.

[C-Whiz]

Sounds great! How does this fit in with the World Cup Challenge? Must be no problems I guess. Too bad it won't be televised.

Good work to Russell, btw. Isn't "his" local team the axemen?

[HodgoBerro]

the WCC is not till feb 29 thats a month to prepare and games like these are good warmups

sounds pretty good - good to see more promotion of RL in the US

its great to see the oldest club in the NRL making a trip over in the Centenary Year

great work rusty

[DIEHARD]

Fantastic work by Crowe. I'll be cheering for Souths.

Should be a big crowd, I wonder if Russell will invite the American Chopper crew to the match.

I suppose it is too much to hope that this match is telecast?

[jenny]

Fantastic work by Crowe. I'll be cheering for Souths.

Should be a big crowd, I wonder if Russell will invite the American Chopper crew to the match.

I suppose it is too much to hope that this match is telecast?

Me too.....I think he puts in his best effort for Souths always...Rusty you Rock!

[DIEHARD]

Should be a big crowd, I wonder if Russell will invite the American Chopper crew to the match.

OCC at Australia Day Challenge

The stars of the hit US TV show American Chopper will feature as part of the pre-game entertainment at the Australia Day Challenge match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Leeds Rhinos to be played at Hodges Stadium at University of North Florida in Jacksonville on Australia Day, Saturday 26 January.

The Teutuls, the cult figures from Orange County Choppers (OCC), will make a special presentation to Rabbitohs co-owner Russell Crowe and the South Sydney Rabbitohs during the pre-match build-up. Mr Crowe and the Rabbitohs hosted the team from American Chopper in Australia when the crew from OCC were doing research for an Australian-themed motorcycle last year. OCC met with Mr Crowe at his farm in Nana Glen in northern NSW, and trained with the Rabbitohs at Bluetongue Stadium in Gosford. The presentation of the motorcycle will be as a gesture of thanks from the crew at OCC to Mr Crowe and the Rabbitohs for their hospitality whilst visiting Australia in 2007.

In addition, Jacksonville television sports director Sam Kouvaris and a dream child from ?Dreams Come True? will also be on hand to help with the presentation. Dreams Come True is north-east Florida?s only locally based, non-profit organisation dedicated to fulfilling the dreams of children battling life-threatening illnesses.

Rabbitohs star Nathan Merritt is very excited about participating in the tour to the United States and rejoining with the Teutuls.

?In 2006 the Club had a bike built, named it after me and had number 22 put on the side to commemorate my 22 tries in the season, but the bikes the guys from OCC produce are amazing,? Merritt said.

?We had a lot of fun with them when they came to our training sessions, but unfortunately their schedule meant they couldn?t see us play on the weekend. Now they, as well as the other Americans coming to the game in Jacksonville, will get to see what Rugby League is all about.

?I?m looking forward to catching up with them again and we?ll be doing our best to showcase the game of Rugby League in the US against one of the best teams in the world.?

Darryl ?Spinner? Howland, Australia Day Challenge event organiser, said: ?The parallel of Rugby League and OCC cannot be overlooked.?

?It?s easy to make the comparison between the sport of Rugby League, known as ?The Toughest Sport on Earth?, and OCC?s tough guys and tough bikes.

?It will be a pleasure to have them attend the game and to sample what Rugby League has to offer.?

The Rabbitohs will be touring with their 31-man full-time playing squad, with the Club playing against the current European Super League champions, the Leeds Rhinos. Fans from at least nine countries and 41 of the American States are attending the event which has also been added as an official event of the ?G?day USA? week-long celebration that showcases all things Australian in the USA. The week commemorates Australia Day on 26 January, the day the Rabbitohs play the Rhinos in Jacksonville.

The Australia Day Challenge is hosted by the Jacksonville Axemen and JEDC Sports & Entertainment.

For more information and tickets please visit www.australiadaychallenge.com or the Jacksonville Axemen website at www.jaxaxe.com.

http://www.souths.com.au

[~lee~]

Im not sure how much Leeds will get out of this game. Sure they will help raise its appeal in Florida but its part of celebrating aussie in usa week and with Crowe on Souths side i dont think they are going to get too many new fans. A very good idea for Souths mind you. Wish it was on tv id love to watch it.

[Dakink]

Pre season for both teams - The English are establishing a partnership with the USA - not the first time a UK team has toured or trained over there.

[Dragons]

Does anyone know it it will be shown on free to air or pay tv?

[Queenslander]

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Leeds Rhinos
Hodges Stadium, University of North Florida, Jackonsville FL, USA
Saturday 26 January 2008, 1:00pm (American Eastern Time)

vs

Gameday Information: www.australiadaychallenge.com


South Sydney

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

Interchange:

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

Leeds Rhinos

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 Pea****
11. Jamie Jones-Buchanan,
12. Gareth Ellis
13. Kevin Sinfield (c)

Interchange:

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

[dee13]

Its really devastating to see talented players like Nathaniel Barnes in other teams lineups. I still think he is a massive loss to the Titans.