CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
HE’S BACK: The British and Irish Lions have touched down in Australia, ahead of their opening match against the Western Force at Perth on Saturday.
Right across the country, the suburbs are rumbling with the sounds of the game’s traditional middle class base reactivating into the die hard supporters that once packed out stadiums in the 1990s and 2000s.
This comes as The Wallabies prepare to host the British and Irish Lions in the historic 12-yearly tour down under.
With the legions of fans descending from the yellow toothed countries of the North, the tour is set to fire up both rusted on and dormant rugby audiences around Australia.
Coupled with the flagship signing of new poster boy Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii, dyed in the wool Wallabies fans are hopeful the progress made in the Joe Schmidt era has the Wallabies in good stead to slay the Lion.
Led by world class players like Len Ikitau, Rob Valentini, Angus Bell and Tom Wright, many Wallabies fans are optimistic about our chances.
And with a sizeable population of Irish and British expats now living in Australia after the pandemic, it seems that the other side will have a fair turn out as well.
Rugby Australia are hoping to capitalise on the momentum that a string of international test victories can provide the game, with the 2023 Matildas World Cup serving as the prime example of how a succesful Australian side can tap into the national psyche when they start winning at home.
More than 40,000 Western Australians fans are expected to make their way to Perth Stadium for the tour’s curtain-raiser on Saturday night. These excitement will only build in the lead up the July 19 showdown against the Wallabies.
Deep in suburban Betoota, one latent rugby union die hard appears to have already caught the bug, as he dusts off the Gregan-era Vodafone kit, and begins furiously researching player stats.
Semi-retired bicycle retailer, Trev Burke says he tuned out of rugby after that needlessly embarrassing Folau saga.
But he’s back with a vengeance.
“I wanna see our piggies up the guts and rucking ball” he says.
“I want those swanky backs coated in cologne and playing flashy”
“I wanna be a Wallabies fan”
