Brumbies still hopeful of Test for Canberra

The ACT Brumbies haven’t given up hope Canberra will host a Test match in 2013 as part of the city’s centenary celebrations.
It was confirmed yesterday the Brumbies would host the touring British and Irish Lions at Canberra Stadium on June 18, 2013.

The ACT government has lobbied the Australian Rugby Union for a Wallabies Test to help celebrate the city’s 100th birthday.

Brumbies boss Andrew Fagan is optimistic the Wallabies will again grace the Canberra Stadium turf in 2013.

The Test matches the Wallabies have played in Canberra recently, against Italy in 2009 and Fiji last year, were well supported. And helping Canberra’s cause is Argentina joining an expanded Tri Nations competition, to be known as the Rugby Championship, from next year.

‘‘It’s been raised with the ARU that 2013’s our centenary year, and if there’s an opportunity to have a Test match then we’d like to be considered,’’ Fagan said.

‘‘We’ve had a lot of support for the Tests we’ve had here the last three years or so, I think we’ve held up our end of the bargain in that regard and can hopefully pitch for Tests in the future.

‘‘For a whole bunch of commercial reasons that’s not always possible and we accept those, but it’s nice at a minimum [that] we’ve got the British and Irish Lions playing the Brumbies here [in Canberra].’’

The Brumbies pushed the Lions to the limit on their last Australian Tour in 2001 before going down 30-28.

‘‘The Lions tour is one of the most iconic tours in world sport,’’ Fagan said.

‘‘Wherever they’ve gone, they bring a lot of people and colour and vibrancy and the whole city will benefit.’’

The Women’s Australian Open at Royal Canberra Golf Club is the other significant sporting event confirmed for the capital in 2013.

However, other events which could eventuate include an Australia-New Zealand rugby league Test, an Indigenous All Stars AFL game, a Socceroos match and an international cricket fixture.

The Lions face a torrid preparation as they attempt to avenge their last series loss to Australia when they tour in 2013, facing four Super Rugby sides before their opening Test.

The Lions, featuring players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, suffered a 2-1 series loss to the Wallabies when they last visited in 2001.

On the 2013 month-long tour, the Lions will play in six Australian cities with Test matches set for Brisbane on June 22, Melbourne on June 29 and Sydney on July 6.

They will play one less match than they did in 2001, but face a much better standard of opponents in the midweek games, lining up against the five Australian Super Rugby franchises.


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