I couldn’t believe it when I first found out I would be attending the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Caz and I had only recently talked about our travel bucket list and our ultimate travel adventure which combines our passion of travel with our sporting addiction.
So kicking off our travel bucket list with the Great Crusade tour of New Zealand, an ultimate supporters tour to follow Australia’s Rugby team the Qantas Wallabies at the World Cup, whilst highlighting and blogging about the best New Zealand has to offer, was a dream come true.
I grew up playing sport. I even played professionally for six years, and I enjoy watching all sports at the top level.
But I’d never been to a World Cup event until now. And I never thought I would be rubbing shoulders with the legends of the game, such as Australia’s former captain John Eales…
With Australian Rugby legend John Eales
However, I did experience the drama, the atmosphere, and the events of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. The Olympics was one of the best two sporting weeks as a spectator in my life.
Besides seeing the Athletes in action, there was an extraordinary spirit throughout Sydney and I’ve been craving more world sporting events ever since.
The Event
Like the other big world cup events, the Rugby Union World Cup is played every four years. The tournament comprises twenty rugby playing nations broken into four pools.
The qualifying pool games are played all over New Zealand with the Final to be played at Auckland’s Eden Park on October 23rd.
Auckland’s Eden Park
The favorites to become world champs would be the New Zealand All Blacks, with the other strong contenders being Australia, South Africa, England, Ireland, and France.
New Zealand is the perfect host. They are rugby mad and have an obsession with the game and their beloved All Blacks to rival any other countries love of their national team.
Their players are treated like god, and they appear constantly in all forms of media and advertising. The mood of the entire country rides on the back of the results of their national team.
Pre-Game Fun
I love the build up to a big game. The chance to get together with your fellow countrymen and opposition, have a few drinks, and talk about the strategy and drama of the game about to unfold.
Pre-game drink with the Great Crusade
Me with an Italian fan
Aussies and Italians
Even if you can’t make it to the actual stadium, there is plenty of celebration in the local bars and neighbourhoods as friends come together for barbies and beers to cheer on your country.
I met an Irish leprachaun
With an American rival
Warming up for the Irish game
Even when Australia is not playing I jump on another country’s team to cheer for. Any excuse for a party right?
Aussie and Irish fans at the pub
Aussie fans and Great Crusaders at the pub
The New Zealander’s have been the best at this. The Australia vs New Zealand rivalry is legendary and being the hospitable hosts that they are, at each of Australia’s games many of the opposition crowd have been kiwis dressed in disguise.
But that’s ok, hopefully we can answer in the best way possible to silence the jeers, with a victory in the Final.
The Games
During my two weeks in New Zealand I was lucky enough to attend three of Australia’s games with 50 other Rugby mad fans on the Great Crusade tour.
Members of the Aussie Great Crusade
First up was a win against Italy at Auckland’s North Harbour. That was followed by a painful loss to Ireland at Eden Park in Auckland. And we had an expected big win against the USA in Wellington.
World Cup fever is on. But what’s so great about it anyway? It’s not just about macho men throwing a ball around and wrestling with each other.
It’s also about the fans showing their passion and support for their nation. It’s about the singing of the National anthems.
It’s about the haka, a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand, which has become more familiar worldwide through the All Blacks pre-match display.
The fan rivalry was fierce, but it was never derogatory, mean or violent. It was all done in friendly jousting; a chance for us to rib our competitors and promote our own patriotism.
Passionate Australian fan
Proud Irishman flying his colors
The Ireland and Australian teams
But within the rivalry came comradeship, there was always someone you could buy a winning or losing drink for. The World Cup is about healthy competition and friendly rivalry.
Patriotic American fan
Aussie and Irish fans mixed in together
Public Enemy Number One
As part of the Great Crusade promotion, I drove around New Zealand with huge photos of Australian players displayed on the side of my campervan.
One of those players was Australia’s star Quade Coopper, who happens to be a New Zealander by birth, and is probably the most HATED man in New Zealand right now.
with my man Quade Cooper
Quade Cooper in action
The kiwis are baying for his blood, and let’s just say the experience of driving around was an interesting and fun time with the looks, comments, and body language displayed towards me. I loved it.
Even though I’m home now, the passion and excitement lives on. I have amazing memories of celebratory times at the games and the after parties that followed.
I won’t be at any more of the live events in New Zealand, but I can still feel that energy and excitement. The emails and tweets haven’t stopped, and the experience lives on…
The Facts
The Event:
The two semi-finals will be played on October 15th and 16th, with the Final to be played in Auckland on October 23rd.
Getting There:
Qantas Airways flies several times a day direct to Auckland and Wellington.
Follow Online:
The Great Crusade can be followed at journey can be followed via TheGreatCrusade.com and via Twitter hashtag #GreatCrusade.
The World Cup can be followed via Rugby World Cup.com
QUESTION…Have you been to any World Cup or Olympic sporting events?
My trip to New Zealand was courtesy of Qantas and the Great Crusade, however all opinions are my own.
