Go Brumbies! 20,000 for $20,000 (and your guide to Super Rugby!)

Posted on 17 July, 2014

Going to a Brumbies match is like attending a live arena spectacular of the Hunger Games, in which all the contestants are the Bachelor of the Year.

I’ve been a rugby union follower since I was a toddler and a Brumbies fan since their inception. I have my Brumbies Jersey (women’s cut thank you very much) and I don’t miss a game.

The sport is thrilling live, if you’ve an analytical brain you will love assessing and strategising over the subtle complexities played out on field.

Or, if you’re like me, half the time after nearly thirty years you’ll still have no idea what is going on. But, there is nothing quite like screaming at the top of your lungs with thousands of other spectators. Plus, the men on field are very, very talented.

The University of Canberra Brumbies are into the Super Rugby series finals. The electricity of the city of Canberra last year during the final (where the Brumbies came runner-up) was phenomenal. This year, we want to go one step further and take out the championship, but to do that, we all need to get behind the boys…and there’s never been a better time!

This Saturday, the  Brumbies will donate $20,000 to Hands Across Canberra if 20,000 fans attend Saturday night’s Qualifier against the Waikato Chiefs at GIO Stadium. The Hands Across Canberra Foundation provides a simplified, cost effective, flexible and financially secure vehicle for those wishing to become involved in philanthropic activity in Canberra.

The UC Brumbies attracted 20,000 fans to Canberra twice in 2013, against the Waratahs and the British and Irish Lions. With a 2013 Super Rugby Final replay on our doorstep against one of the competition’s most electrifying teams in the Chiefs, UC Brumbies organisers are confident of a similar figure come Saturday night.

So there’s never been a better time to get into rugby and to get along, to help make that 20 000 target! If you’re new to rugby, or need a reminder of why to go, keep reading for an introduction and a lighthearted look at my favourite sport.

How to watch a game

1. Make sure you are wearing our team colours and not the other team’s colours

Brumbies are navy and yellow. This means not wearing your red pashmina, just accept that fact. However, do wear a lot of clothes, this is Canberra we are talking about.

2. Don’t get overwhelmed by how much happens on the field, give yourself a focal point.

Do your homework, look over the players that are lining up for our team on the night – yes, you can do this on your smartphone in the ten minutes before the game starts, and they also show it on the large screen at the stadium.

Pick your favourite player and keep your eye on him throughout the game: you’ll be more excited when he gets the ball and you’ll be worried if he gets injured – take ownership of your player and your team! Take note of the number on his jersey and give him a nickname. It’ll make the game more personal and the commentary amongst you and your girlfriends rather entertaining. Especially if (like me) you nickname one of the players “My Future husband” and your friends’ comments throughout the game include:

“Hey your future husband is really getting into that group hug”.

3. Get to know the moves

Whenever a man says anything like “I don’t hug, I’m a man” or “Real men don’t hug”, I refer them to a Rugby Union scrum. That is some serious group hugging going on right there. Ladies, if you want a real, sensitive man in touch with his feelings, go for a man who knows how to scrum.

The rules

1. The aim is to touch the ball down at the other end of the field (which is called a Try). The key rule is that the attacking team can only pass the ball backwards – Imagine a flying V formation of ducks, and each one passes an imaginary duck rugby ball from the front of the V towards the back in a pass the parcel fashion, but they are always moving forward. However, if the ball is either passed forward or accidentally dropped forward, this is called a ‘Knock on’ and it is not allowed.

2. Your team is allowed to kick the ball forward.

3. Don’t worry if you have no idea what just happened. Rugby is a very complex sport. Most of the crowd also has no idea. They’re just too proud to admit it and they desperately want their team to score. You will hear lines such as “there was a hand in the ruck”, and you will have no idea what that means, don’t worry about it, just find where your player is on the field and keep up with what he’s doing.

4. Points: A Try is worth 5 points. If a team scores a Try, they are then allowed to attempt to Convert the Try by kicking the ball through the posts, which is worth another 2 points. If a team does something against the rules the other team is given the ball and may have the option of attempting a Penalty kick, which is worth 3 points.

If you’re not convinced yet, just envisage that the objective of the game is that all of the players are duelling for your favour, and yours alone. Imagine it’s Downton Abbey meets Game of Thrones.

Canberra, our rugby men need our support. Come along on Saturday evening to GIO stadium (formerly Bruce Stadium) for a 7.40pm kick off. Arrive around 7pm, buy a drink, settle in (bring warm clothes) and watch this beautiful, skill-full and strategic sport in its finest degree (albeit be prepared for a chilly night). Let’s get behind our team and get them through to the finals.

Go the Brumbies!

Follow our commentary!

I’ll be live-tweeting the game – follow @annariddel for all the action!

the essentials

Super Rugby: Brumbies vs. Chiefs
Where: GIO Stadium, Bruce
Kick-Off: 7:40pm Saturday 19 July 2014
How much: From $10 for General Admission
Tickets: premier.ticketek.com.au
Web: www.brumbies.com.au