THE Australian Wallabies rugby union side was in focus yesterday at Vansittart Park when the GoldBlooded tour came to the Blue Lake City.
Two “classic” Wallabies – Adam Freier and Matt Cockbain – were on hand to share experiences and run clinics, all with the aim to promote the game of rugby union leading up to the World Cup in Japan later this year.
Speaking to The Border Watch this week, Freier said the GoldBlooded tour was an “incredible” opportunity to showcase the game in regional Australia, rather than the major centres for the sport in Sydney and Brisbane.
Those attending had the chance to meet the former players, join in the clinics and see first hand “Bill”, the World Cup trophy claimed by the Wallabies back in 1999.
Speaking to Freier, his passion for the game was clear.
“This opportunity to do a GoldBlooded tour across the whole country just unites the nation,” he said.
“But that is what the World Cup does for sports in general, not just rugby.
“The success of the tour so far has been incredible.
“It has been so much bigger and greater than I thought it would be and now it is my turn to jump in for a few days, share a few rugby stories and run a few drills.
“If we hand out a few posters and they end up staying on kids walls for the next three or four years, we have done our job.”
Being an AFL region did not seem to dampen any of that enthusiasm either.
“I think when you talk about rugby union areas, AFL areas and rugby league areas, the common thread is your passion for your country,” Adam Freier said.
“Rugby union is celebrated across the whole planet.
“In Australia we love all sports, but every four years we have an opportunity to bring the whole country together.
“It is united by that common thread which is the gold jersey.
“We hope a lot of AFL fans in Mount Gambier, Coober Pedy or wherever it might be will be able to say ‘I remember seeing that World Cup’, or ‘I remember seeing that Wallaby’ or ‘I remember being around that jersey’.
“Then the kids can turn on a TV with their parents and watch the World Cup.
“The kids can take their poster with the signatures on it and stick it on the wall.
“At the end of the day it is about inspiring kids and to preach the rugby gospel.”
Freier played 25 tests for the Wallabies through his career.
He said he remembers vividly the first time he pulled on an Australian jersey.
“I remember it being about three sizes too big,” he joked.
“In my last test I could not fit it on – it was too small.
“But anyone who puts a jersey on, whether you are representing your club, your state, or even the Wallabies, it represents something.
“That can be the country or it can be the community.
“You are always proud, it is just at different levels.”
Both Freier and Cockbain shared many experiences yesterday.
