In what could be viewed as a first in New Zealand the Wellington Hurricanes Super 14 Franchise will take on the Wellington Tigers Australian Football team in a game of modified Australian Football.
The match will take place at Elsdon Park Porirua on Tuesday the 15th of January at 3.00pm.
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The game will be played in a friendly spirit to minimise the risk of players picking up an injury, however the competitive natural of the players is likely to come through once the battle of the codes commences. The event has been organized to introduce some variety into the pre-season fitness programme for the Hurricanes squad in the lead up to this years Telecom Super 14 competition commencing on the 15th of February against the Waratahs in Sydney.
You could also consider comment about: all the Hurricanes enjoying the freedom to kick the ball, pass in any direction and their is no such thing as a knock on!
Football codes are now delving deeper into discovering new ways of improving the skill sets of their players and the relationships the codes are developing seem beneficial to all.
The fact that the Australian Football season and the Rugby season do not overlap has seen a flood of traditional rugby participants upgrading their skills during the off season to hopefully gain a competitive edge.
The cross over of the two codes is gaining momentum. Hurricanes and All Blacks kicking coach Michael Byrne is a former Swan, Melbourne and Hawthorn AFL Ruckman with 150 games of Australian Football at the highest level, whilst All Blacks fitness trainer Graham Lowe has also played a season of Australian Football for Auckland Club North Shore Tigers.
Few people know that the prodigious kicking ability of All Black Nic Evans was nurtured during his stint with the Aussie code. Evans represented New Zealand Australian Football Under 21’s in a tour of Australia some years ago.
The fierce competitive nature of the New Zealand national sport has also benefitted Australian Football in New Zealand and Australia.
The Wellington Australian Football Team to play against the Hurricanes will include talented local rugby stars Isaac O’Connor and James Kusel who will endeavor to follow similar career paths to Nic Evans and become dual internationals.
In late August the New Zealand Falcons go to Melbourne to defend their title of International Cup holders (The best team outside Australia), against 16 other nations. The current squad contains more than a dozen Rugby players as well as those with Soccer and League backgrounds. Seven players in the current falcons squad are lining up for Australian teams in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia this winter.Adam Campbell played Rugby in New Zealand until 14 years of age and is now a regular member of the Fremantle Dockers in the famous AFL competition.
Adam Campbell
It remains to be seen how Jerry Collins will look in his new sleeveless outfit and tight shorts next Tuesday but it could be worth a look.
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