Super Rugby players across the country will join together this weekend to commemorate and support the ANZAC Day Centenary and the men and women who have served and continue to serve for Australia.
Games this weekend will feature a number of ANZAC Centenary commemorations, including the Ode, the Last Post, minute’s silence, Reveille, Australian and New Zealand national anthems as well as marches and performances by Armed Forces bands.
See below for what’s in store for each Australian home ground game across this weekend’s #ANZACround and be sure to support players at the games and in their initiatives to remember and raise funds for key Defence Force personnel causes.
Brumbies v Highlanders – Friday 24 April, Canberra
The Brumbies are one of three Aussie Super Rugby teams who will face their Kiwi counterparts as part of this weekend’s #ANZACround.
To mark the occasion Brumbies players launched a specially designed jersey featuring poppies, camo and the Soldier On logo.
As the match day charity this week, Soldier On supports Australian service men and women who have been wounded, physically or psychologically in contemporary conflicts.
The Brumbies special edition ANZAC Centenary jersey can be purchased here with a percentage of the sales going to Soldier On.
A group of Brumbies players will join members of the Highlanders, the Australian Services Rugby Team and New Zealand Defence Forces Rugby team at the Last Post Ceremony at the Australian War Memorial this Thursday ahead of the game.
The Australian Services team will play the New Zealand Defence Forces team in the curtain raiser to the match on Friday.
Fans will be able to meet players on the field after the game. Tickets can be bought here.
Waratahs v Rebels – Saturday 25 April (ANZAC Day), Sydney
It’s the first time the NSW Waratahs have played a match on ANZAC Day . It’s also the only Australian derby of the #ANZACround as the Tahs go head-to-head to once again with the Melbourne Rebels to contest the Weary Dunlop Shield, named after Australian Army surgeon and Wallaby number 280, Colonel Sir Ernest Edward "Weary" Dunlop, AC, CMG, OBE.
Captain Dave Dennis and Nick Phipps recently launched their first ANZAC Day match on board the HMAS Vampire in Sydney in partnership with Legacy Sydney, who provide services to dependants of veterans who gave their lives or health.
All current and past Australian Defence Force Personnel will be able to attend the game for free, with their family members eligible for half-price tickets.
A percentage of all over tickets sold to the game will be donated to Legacy Sydney. More information on the match and tickets can be found here. Tickets to the match can be purchased here.
As part of the ANZAC Centenary, Melbourne Rebels players are supporting the 2015 ANZAC appeal, an initiative of the RSL who support past and present servicemen and women. Rebels players are encouraging supporters to buy a badge and wear it with pride as part of the cause.
Queensland Reds v Hurricanes – Sunday 26 April, Brisbane
Queensland Reds Captain, James Slipper recently joined members of Brisbane’s 7th Brigade also to unveil a special ANZAC commemorative jersey this week.
The Reds’ jersey features the Rising Sun emblem of the Australian Defence Force and will be auctioned following the match with all monies raised to go to Mates4Mates, an organisation who provide physical and psychological rehabilitation for current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members who are wounded, injured or ill. Ten of the jerseys will also feature names of former Queensland Rugby representatives who served in the First World War. Bids for the jerseys can be made here.
Ben Daley’s ‘Be Good Do Good’ headgear campaign will also support Mates4Mates this week.
The 7th Brigade will feature in the curtain raiser against the 16th Brigade ahead of the match at Suncorp Stadium. More information about the game this Sunday afternoon can be found here with tickets available here.
Members of the Reds and Hurricanes will lay a wreath at the dawn service in Brisbane on Saturday morning.
Ed Quirk also recently joined Corporal Andrew Brown for a school visit ahead of ANZAC Day.
