World-Class Rugby Event Invades Philadelphia

Franklin Field will play host to the first ever meeting between the USA and Australia on American soil

by Justin Windheim


PHILADELPHIA, November 15, 2004 - In a sport known for hard heads and even harder hits, Franklin Field will be rocking as professional Rugby comes to town. The event will have an “All-Star” feel as Australia sends it’s best to the United States for two top-notch matches. In addition to the matches, young Rugby fans will have the opportunity to watch their peers as the Youth “Flag” Exhibition Rugby League opens up the event with multiple 14-minute games.

This event will give many American’s the chance to experience live professional Rugby for the first time. “We are ecstatic about getting a chance to showcase this great sport in such a tremendous venue and are even more energized about getting a shot at the number one ranked team on our own soil,” said David Niu, president of the American National Rugby League.

The gates open November 30 at 4:00 p.m. and will feature three different events.

4:00: Youth ‘Flag’ Exhibition Rugby League

6:00: “Remembrance Cup” with the US Rugby League 2004 champion Glen Mills Bulls vs the 2004 South Sydney League champion Coogee Dolphins

7:30: “Liberty Bell Cup” featuring the world’s 1st ranked Australian Kangaroos vs the 18th ranked USA Tomahawks

Both matches hold significant meaning to all involved. First on tap will be the 6:00 PM Remembrance Cup, “In Honour of our Mates.” This match is dedicated to the memories of those who passed away on 9-11-01 in the USA and on 12-10-02 in Bali. Those words hit close to home for the Coogee Dolphins as that Bali nightclub bombing resulted in the loss of 5 of their team members. The night’s main event, the 7:30 PM Liberty Bell Cup, has been created to “symbolize the common ideal of peace, liberty, and friendship shared by the two nations.” The match will be the first between the two clubs on American soil and is the first in what will become an annual rivalry between the two countries.

Regardless of the outcome, professional Rugby will be getting some deserved American attention. “We look forward to featuring some of the world’s best Rugby talent in front of an audience that might not have had the opportunity before. Hopefully the matches can stir up some stateside excitement and bring attention to the well-deserving sport and its athletes. Bringing these two clubs together could be the beginning of something special,” said Graham Annesley, chief operating officer of the National Rugby League.

With three decades of dominance under their belts, the Kangaroos are proven and will be tough to beat. While the match will create a tremendous opportunity to show the sport, the Americans are viewing it as a chance to prove themselves.

“I do believe this is a game we can win. None of us are looking at this as a showcase,” said U.S. captain Jeff Preston. “This is an opportunity for us to help elevate rugby to a new level in this country.”

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