The Qantas Wallabies are gearing up for a big week in the West ahead of their Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks in Perth on Saturday 8 September.
Rugby fans of all ages will have the chance to rub shoulders with their favourite Qantas Wallabies players and show their support for the Australians at a number of events next week.
Members of the Qantas Wallabies squad will be participating in a range of free activities giving fans the opportunity to secure autographs and have their photos taken with their favourite players.
The first opportunity for Perth fans will be on Monday 3 September when the Qantas Wallabies get put through their paces at an open training session at the University of Western Australia from 3.30pm.
Following training, fans will have the chance to meet their favourite Qantas Wallabies stars and have their memorabilia signed.
They will also be able to get up close to the Nelson Mandela Challenge Plate and Tri-Nations trophy, both currently held by the Qantas Wallabies.
On Wednesday 5 September, members of the Qantas Wallabies and Springboks squads will come together for the Big Braai/BBQ.
The event will be a unique opportunity for fans to meet, greet and mingle with around 30 of the games stars ahead of their Rugby World Cup quarter final re-match.
Rarely do two opposing sides gather in the days before a Test match, making the Big Braai/BBQ a unique and highly exclusive opportunity for Rugby enthusiasts to rub shoulders with members the Qantas Wallabies and Springboks squads.
The Big Braai/BBQ will be held at Northbridge Piazza from 4.30pm – 7.30pm, with players in attendance from 5.30pm.
Entry to the event is free and fans from both sides are encouraged to come along and enjoy the historic occasion.
See Qantas Wallabies lock, Nathan Sharpe, talking about the Big Braai BBQ in the lead up to the Test match against the Springboks in Perth.
On Thursday 6 September the highly popular Qantas Wallabies Towns initiative will venture West, with members of the Qantas Wallabies squad visiting Karrinyup Shopping Centre to meet and greet fans between 1.00pm and 3.00pm.
As well as being able to meet a greet members of the Qantas Wallabies squad the Karrinyup Qantas Wallabies Town will give fans the chance to pick up giveaways and prizes, including tickets to the Test between the Qantas Wallabies and Springboks in Perth and signed Qantas Wallabies jerseys.
Qantas Wallabies captain, Will Genia, said the support the team received was never taken for granted by the players. He encouraged fans of all ages to get along to the events and the Test in Perth.
“The supporters are very important and play a critical part in any success we achieve,” Genia said.
“This is never more so than at times like right now where the team is battling a bit of adversity after a couple of disappointing results against the All Blacks.
“Meeting and mingling with the fans at events like we have in Perth next week allows the players to connect with the public.
“It provides us with inspiration as it reaffirms who we represent, the exciting opportunity that we have ahead of us in the game, and what it means to have the honour of wearing the Australian jersey.”
Genia said the unique nature of the Big Braai/BBQ made it a “not to be missed” event, both for passionate Rugby followers but also the wider Western Australian community.
“At what other international event could you go and mingle freely with the players that are involved just a couple of days before they go at each other head-to-head,” Genia said.
“I encourage everyone to come out and say hello.
“We know the Springboks will have support over in the West so to see a lot of Aussie fans dressed in Gold at these events and of course at the Test on Saturday night would be fantastic.”
All of the events lead into the highly anticipated Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship Test between the Qantas Wallabies and Springboks at Patersons Stadium on Saturday 8 September.
It will be the first time the two sides have met since their epic Rugby World Cup quarter final in New Zealand last year.
The match will also be Qantas Wallabies lock Nathan Sharpe’s last Test in Perth.
Tickets to The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship Test between the Qantas Wallabies and Springboks are still available.
Full details of next week’s fan events in Perth are detailed below.
Qantas Wallabies open training session
Date: Monday, 3rd September
Venue: University of WA Sports Ground, McGillivray Rd, Mt Claremont
Time: 3.30 – 5.00pm
The Big Braai/BBQ
Date: Wednesday 5th September
Venue: Northbridge Piazza, Cnr Lake and James Street, Northbridge (entry is free)
Time: 4.30pm – 7.00pm with players there from 5.30pm
Qantas Wallabies Towns
Date: Thursday, 6th September
Venue: Karrinyup Shopping Centre, 200 Karrinyup Rd, Karrinyup
Time: 1.00 – 3.00pm