Brumbies relocate from Canberra smoke

https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/01/0...anberra-smoke/

The Brumbies are moving their Super Rugby training base to Newcastle, 443 kms away, because of the hazardous air conditions in Canberra.

The franchise’s facilities at the University of Canberra have been closed indefinitely as the bushfires devastating Australia cast a smoky pall over the nation’s capital.

Some air quality stations in Canberra have been returning readings nearly three times above extremely hazardous levels.

With players set to return to training on Monday, ahead of round one in less than four weeks, the Brumbies said the air quality had become a player welfare issue.

“Our thoughts are with those affected by the devastating events throughout the country,” Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said.

“The small changes we have had to make are nothing in comparison to the distressing position so many people in our region are sadly experiencing at the moment.

“Player welfare is always a priority and temporarily moving to Newcastle will allow us to to continue to prepare for our round one match.”

The WNBL has already cancelled a match at the AIS while the Canberra International tennis tournament has been relocated to Bendigo in country Victoria due to bushfires and smoke haze.

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Anyone think that the Force should invite the Brumbies over here, to use our state-of-the-art training facilities? And give both of us a hand in opposed training sessions.

Good call sheikh, it'll help them to prepare for the day when they themselves are jettisoned from Aussie rugby to fund the unsustainable self+interest from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne

Interesting comments about the Broulee Dolphins Rugby Club. If the club has been damaged I hope there is support for them to be rebuild. Cooma and Jindabyne Bushpigs Rugby Clubs may also been under threat. Both towns have had evacuations. Bundanoon is not under the Brumbies catchment, that town has been hit by the fires.

The funds won’t come from the RA as they are skint and donated massive amounts of money to lawyers and the Folau’s recently.

The AFL have already allocated money to clubs that may have been hit by the fires.

JANUARY 7 2020 - 3:00PM
Canberra sport joins forces to help bushfire cause
David Polkinghorne
David Polkinghorne
Brumbies
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We are one. But they want to help many. Canberra's major sporting bodies have united for the cause.

The cause of helping those that have been devastated by the NSW bushfires.

The Raiders and Brumbies are part of a united effort from Canberra sport to raise money for the bushfire victims. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong
The Raiders and Brumbies are part of a united effort from Canberra sport to raise money for the bushfire victims. Picture: Sitthixay Ditthavong

Every major sport in the ACT has banded together to create a coordinated fundraising effort that will be targeted at helping other sporting bodies in the surrounding areas that have been hit by the fires.

The Brumbies, the Raiders, GWS Giants, the Capitals, the Meteors, the Cavalry, the Brave, Canberra United, Hockey ACT, Tennis ACT, Netball ACT, Basketball ACT and all their respective sports have joined forces.

There's also the potential for several national sporting bodies to come to the party.

Their fundraising efforts will look to help other sporting bodies, clubs and athletes affected from Nowra to Eden, out to the Riverina and down to the Snowy Mountains.

Brumbies general manager of commercial operations Gavin Hunt said all groups would have their own focuses and efforts.

But they will also come together whenever they can and will look to put on a couple of major fundraisers throughout the year.

"We're under the tagline of 'We are one', uniting the Canberra sporting community," Hunt said.

"All of the major sporting codes and sporting teams are looking at a joint fundraising call to arms for bushfire relief, support of the volunteers and everything that goes along with it.

"[We'll be] looking at opportunities throughout the year where we all get together at a couple of major events."

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The Brumbies will use their season opener against the Queensland Reds at Canberra Stadium on January 31 to raise funds.

Hunt was at Moruya on New Year's Eve and saw Broulee get engulfed in smoke from across the water.

He felt their sports clubs could have been badly affected and that was an example of how they could help.

"A lot of us are pretty focussed on making sure the funding gets through to the targeted areas of our region," Hunt said.

"I've no doubt Broulee Dolphins rugby clubhouse has probably been torched ... they're the sort of things we're looking to provide support to."

The Raiders will also use their season opener - against the Gold Coast Titans at Canberra Stadium on March 13 - as an opportunity.

They're also working with the NRL, who are looking to do a concerted effort across the entire round-one fixture.

Plus Raiders players have also been doing their own thing, like Curtis Scott's GoFundMe page - which has raised about $22,000.

"We have to nut it all out, but it will be something like free entry to rural fire service volunteers," Raiders chief executive Don Furner said.

"We'll do a gold-coin donation, plus we'll donate a percentage of the ticket sales.

"The first home game will be a major fundraiser for us and we'll probably do other stuff."