by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Wednesday didn’t mark the first time TV stations and reporters assembled at the Landing for a press conference, but it was the first time since the Super Bowl that Jacksonville was the center of attention for a worldwide sports audience.
England’s Leeds Rhinos and Australia’s South Sydney Rabbitohs were on hand for a press conference and to meet fans who are anticipating the teams’ International Rugby League exhibition match, “The Australia Day Challenge,” scheduled for Saturday at the University of North Florida.
Local media outlets were joined by journalists and videographers from Australia’s two largest television networks, ESPN Australia and Sydney’s two daily newspapers: the Daily Telegraph and Morning Herald.
United Kingdom representatives included the BBC, Yorkshire Television and “every major newspaper in the U.K.,” according to Leeds Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington.
He described his impression of the pre-match hospitality and practice facilities as “superb” and added, “The teams are really enjoying it and so are our corporate sponsors who have traveled here to be with us.”
One thing that hasn’t been publicized this week is how the South Sydney team got its name. Jeremy Monahan, the team’s media and communications manager, explained.
Apparently, at the turn of the century when the team was founded (it celebrates its 100th birthday this year), there were men who lived around Sydney who hunted rabbits and sold them in the streets. They would announce their presence and available inventory by calling out “rabbitoh.” When a customer purchased a hare for dinner, it was skinned on the spot and ready for the pot.
Also, Monahan continued, early in the 20th century some of South Sydney’s players made extra money in the rabbit trade while wearing their uniforms and would go to matches direct from the street. When their opponents saw the blood and fur that was left on the players following the street-level field dressing, they would make fun of Souths and call them “rabbitohs.” The name stuck.
A depiction of the unique form of historical Australian commerce is included to this day on the team’s logo.
Australian wildlife lore aside, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Sports and Entertainment Coordinator Mike Bouda said the event has brought the City an amount of international publicity that would be difficult to quantify. It also didn’t take a large investment.
The City awarded a $2,500 grant in April 2007 to the Jacksonville Axemen, a local rugby team, that was matched by the Florida Sports Foundation to help fund the team’s second season and last August’s American Rugby League National Championship Match.
The season and league title match were a success, and that got the attention of actor Russell Crowe, co-owner of the Rabbitohs. One thing led to another, and the culmination of efforts will be capped by Saturday’s match that has captured an international audience of rugby fans.
Bouda said international rugby is in its infancy as a sport in America, but it is big business in England and Australia. He expects the exposure to have a long-term positive impact on the city.
“Without this event, the rugby world wouldn’t even know where Jacksonville is,” he said. “We consider getting this event a coup, and the more things we can host like this, the better off we’ll be.”