By David Ball
Staff Writer
Jacksonville is getting quite a reputation as a rugby town.
Just weeks after the city played host to the American National Rugby League Grand Final championships, actor and Australian rugby-team owner Russell Crowe announced Monday that the River City will host a meeting of two of the world’s top professional teams in a highly anticipated preseason match.
Crowe’s South Sydney Rabbitohs will battle United Kingdom rival the Leeds Rhinos Jan. 26 at Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida (UNF) campus. The date also happens to be Australia Day.
Crowe said Jacksonville beat out several other U.S. sites and could one day be synonymous with top-level rugby.
“Jacksonville’s got the potential to take that whole market,” Crowe said following a press conference at UNF. “I think we made the best decision for the team by coming to Jacksonville.”
Crowe said the established relationship between UNF and the Jacksonville Axemen Rugby League team showed that proper facilities and rugby organizers were already in place.
Axemen co-owner Daryl “Spinner” Howland said the growth of his team and of these kinds of high-profile events is due in no small part to the support of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC).
“For the Jacksonville Axemen, that’s the largest thing that has happened for us,” said Howland. “It gives us credibility when we go for events like this and we have the support of the city.”
Howland and his ownership partner, Drew Slover, received a $2,500 grant from the JEDC’s Sports and Entertainment Board in April to help supplement costs for their second season.
In return, the Axemen drew more than 1,000 fans to their five home games and capped the season off by hosting the National League championships. And now, they’ve brought Crowe on board and expect to draw more than 10,000 people to the international game in January — and many spectators won’t be local.
“There’s going to be bus-loads of Australians, said Crowe. “There’s quite a big buzz amongst South Sydney fans.”
Crowe spent most of the day Monday touring Jacksonville’s Downtown, riverfront and beaches. He said the game could be an annual event and a
significant economic draw to the city. However, he said he isn’t interested in turning a profit.
“If we do generate money, we’ll find a suitable charity to donate to,” said Crowe.
Mike Bouda, director of Sports and Entertainment, said this kind of exposure and economic impact shows a definite return on the board’s investment in city rugby.
“We’ve supported rugby because of Spinner, not because of rugby itself,” said Bouda. “He brings a high level of dedication and professionalism. When you can bring two international teams to play a match of this caliber and we (Jacksonville) can be showcased, I don’t know if you can put a dollar figure on this.”
For more information, including ticket information, visit www.jaxaxe.com or www.southsydneystory.com.