Sports Journal - Issue 1 - Winter '15

WINTER 2015

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year 01 - issue 01

www.sportsnetholidays.com

3 REVIEWS Find out what our guests have to say about their experiences with Sportsnet Holidays

4 FORMULA 1® We look into Formula 1®, it’s history and the evolution of the F1® car

10 INTERVIEW 5 minutes with Rebels Captain, Scott ‘Higgers’ Higginbotham

13 EVENTS Read up on some of our highlights from the year so far

14 DESTINATION We look for a Fijian getaway and find the stunning Tropica Island Resort

15 CALENDAR Find out what’s coming up in sport over the next six months

TM © Rugby World Cup Limited 1986.

RWC 2015 IT’S BEEN FOUR LONG YEARS

in the making but we’re now just months away from Rugby World Cup 2015, hosted by England and Wales. It’s been almost a quarter of a century since RWC was last held at the home of Rugby and as a result it’s shaping up to be the biggest Rugby World Cup since the Tournament’s inception.

To celebrate the biggest sporting event of the year and to help brush up on your Rugby trivia, we’ve put together a history of the Wallabies jersey, an interview with Scott Higginbotham and a collection of great stats about Rugby World Cup. PAGE 08

ISLE OF MAN

AUCKLAND NINES

MELBOURNE CUP

Get yourself ready for the Isle of Man TT with two-time winner, Cameron Donald. Join the Norton Racing rider as he describes the Isle and walks through a lap of the legendary street circuit.

It happened in what has to have been the biggest weekend of sport so far this year. Lining up alongside the Australian Open finals, the Asian Cup finals and the Superbowl was the 2015 Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines.

It’s the biggest week in Australian horse racing and features the richest two-mile handicap race in the world.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival is without doubt one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world.

journal

2 WINTER 2015

EXECUTIVE

PHOTO: © RABODIRECT MELBOURNE REBELS

Rob Cecconi chief executive officer & founder Daniel Cecconi chief operating officer Ian Philpott chief financial officer Peter Lamont chief information officer

MARKETING Will Lamont digital marketing manager Kelly Stock events & promotions manager Greg Ho media producer Roger Domingos senior graphic designer

PRODUCT Ornella Tonetti product manager Rebecca Bertuna product executive Rebecca Wallace product executive Sarah Fotia reservations executive

DOCUMENTATION Emma Steel documentation manager Jade Iannotti documentation executive

SALES Brooke Hallam corporate sales executive Megan Curwood corporate sales executive Cheree Carney sales executive Craig Mutimer sales executive Glynn Gray sales executive Ian Hill sales executive Jacob Seeary sales executive

It is no secret that Australians have a love of sport and an unrelenting desire to travel within Australia and abroad.

This culture turned out to be the driving force behind the creation of the Sportsnet Holidays (Sportsnet) brand in August 1998.

Right from the start, Sportsnet’s business plan was simple: make it easy for Australians to attend their favourite sporting events (to “see it live!”), no matter where the event or fixture was being staged in the world. By remaining true to its core business strategy of dedication to excellence, Sportsnet has achieved some memorable milestones in its 15 year history. Sportsnet arranges travel for up to 20,000 clients (and growing) to attend sporting events in Australia and around the world each year.

PAGE 10 We caught up with the captain of the RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels, Scott Higginbotham

editor’s note I

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING. “Why did my favourite sports travel agent send me this wonderful looking pseudo-magazine?”. Well, as you know, Sportsnet Holidays attends many, many sporting events in Australia as well as internationally (just over fifty at my last count) and we’ve been thinking about ways that we can share those experiences with you, even if you aren’t there this year.

The first thing we started doing was taking a camera along to our events and you might have noticed that videos have been popping up all over our website as a result. As they say, “If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video is worth a million”. We also started up the Sportsnet Blog as a place where we can share our thoughts on what’s going on in the world of sport as well as being able to share some of our own travel experiences and tips. Sometimes though, it’s nice to read something that isn’t on a digital screen and that brings us to the paper you are now reading.

BOOK NOW FOR THE 2015 MALAYSIAN MOTOGP

We spend a lot of hours researching and learning about an event when we put packages together and quite often, come across really interesting stories and articles. We thought, “Why don’t we share some of these with our clients?”.

Add to that, the occasional opportunity we get to catch up with some of our favourite sports personalities and ask them a few questions and here we are, the first Sportsnet Holidays Sports Journal of 2015.

We’ll be bringing you a new issue every few months and inside you’ll find articles, stories and recaps about events we’ve been to in the past couple of months and those coming soon, as well as interviews with some of our favourite sport stars. We hope you enjoy it!

TO READ COMPLETE SPORTSNET CONTENT, PLEASE VISIT: sportsnetholidays.com FACEBOOK facebook.com/ SportsnetHolidays TWITTER twitter.com/ SportsnetHols INSTAGRAM instagram.com/ SportsnetHolidays/ E-MAIL US travel@sportsnetholidays.com

DANIEL CECCONI chief operating officer

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WINTER 2015

Australian Open 2015

Melbourne Cup Carnival 2014

Elwyn and I thought that the service you offered us was superb.

We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the Open and in Melbourne. Thank you so much. It would not have been the same without the superb organisation of Sportsnet. It was all so trouble-free.

Trish & Elwyn, South Africa

I cannot thank Sportsnet enough for this bucket list trip of a lifetime.

Right from my first communications with staff I found them to be friendly, helpful and always prepared to take the time to look after my needs/ queries. It was a fabulous experience with every detail taken care of and exceeding expectations.

Wanda, Queensland

Very happy with everything!

I am not very savvy with these things and whenever I rang and asked a question, no matter how silly, I always got an answer that satisfied me. I actually rang when I got home to let Sportsnet know how pleased I was with my package. Seats and accommodation were excellent.

Julie, Queensland

2014 Isle of Man TT We found the Sportsnet site on the internet, called and made a few enquiries. They were extremely helpful and assisted us all the way. Everything they said they would, they followed through with. Would definitely use them again and recommend them to other travellers.

Malcom, Queensland My husband and I did not know what to expect, however we were very, very pleased with Sportsnet! The vibrant team of Megan, Ornella, Mark and Val were very friendly, helpful and happy to talk to us. We appreciated the great effort that must go into creating this GREAT event!

Adele and Gene, Victoria

2014 Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix What a fantastic holiday and something I will never forget. The whole package was absolute value for money and the service I received from the Sportsnet crew was brilliant. From Ian Hill who answered all of my questions and changed things around leading up to the holiday, to the girls Sarah and Brooke who were on hand at any time to field the questions over in Malaysia a big thankyou. Thankyou very much for the lifetime memories and will recommend and use Sportsnet again the next time I travel to a sporting event.

Brendan, Western Australia It could not have been any better, it was wonderful from start to finish – well done to you all, and all the guests we spoke to loved it as well. Sincere thanks to Sarah, Brooke and Ian – they went above and beyond to look after us all, they are the reason why people like us keep coming back every year. We cannot wait to go back to Malaysia next year – please add us to your waiting list and please send Sarah, Brooke and Ian again PLUS Ornella. They all rock, totally.

Mandy, Victoria

3

Auckland Nines 2015 We had an exceptional holiday.

Sportsnet made everything about the holiday easy - from getting on the plane to getting home. We would use Sportsnet again and would recommend to friends.

Lisa, ACT We had a real great time at the Auckland Nines! As it was our first time we weren’t sure what to expect, but everything went smooth and was better than we expected. It was an awesome weekend!

Craig, New South Wales

2014 Formula 1® Singapore Grand Prix Congratulations Sportsnet! You guys did it again! No issues with flights or transfers. Excellent recommendation / choice of hotel ( Grand Park City Hall ). Just 10mins to our preferred entry gate No.4 and to our Grandstand seats. You could not have asked for better! Lunch on Friday was a terrific idea not only from the venue point of view and getting to meet DC (David Coulthard); but also got to meet our hostesses and some of the other guests who were also staying at City Hall. All in all, a thoroughly memorable trip made all the more enjoyable having you guys take care of all the arrangements so professionally and without any hitches!

Chris, Victoria

2014 State of Origin Game 3, Queensland The package was great. Would love to put my name down to attend next year’s Origin 3 with the same tickets.

Our tickets were front row seats at the try line – best seats in the stadium!

Di, Queensland Game 2, NSW I organised this on behalf of our company and have been told that everything was incredibly well organised. Thank you for allowing us to join your cruise.

Amanda, Queensland

TO READ MORE REVIEWS, PLEASE VISIT: sportsnetholidays.com TM © RWC Ltd 1986.

journal

4 WINTER 2015

Formula 1

®

F1 Overview ®

T

HE FIA Formula One World Championship (also referred to as Formula One, Formula 1 and F1) is the highest class of single-seat auto racing sanctioned by the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile).

Formula One races are held all over the planet on purpose-built circuits and public roads. Formula One cars are the fastest road racing cars on the planet, reaching race speeds of up to 330km/h.

Two Formula One championships run simultaneously throughout the season; a Drivers Championship and a Constructors Championship.

Why Formula One? The formula itself is a set of rules which all participants must adhere to.

Since its inception, the formula has evolved and changed to keep up with technology development, to improve safety requirements and more recently, reduced environmental impact.

How big is it?

Formula One can be seen in almost every country around the world and attracts one of the largest global television audiences. In 2001, the season was broadcast to 200 countries and the cumulative television audience for the season was calculated to be 54 billion!

In 2008, there was an average global audience of 600 million viewers per race.

History The FIA Formula One World Championship was first run in 1950, with the first race held at Silverstone, UK. However, its roots trace back to Grand Prix racing of the early 1900’s.

Evolution Timeline

Cars

In its first season, the Formula One championship season ran over just seven races, six of which were held in Europe.

The seventh race was held in the US as the Indianapolis 500. Today, the Formula One season spans nineteen races across every populated continent except for Africa. The winner of the first World Championship for drivers was Giuseppe Farina in his Alfa Romeo. Juan Manuel Fangio won the title in 1951, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957. His record of five World Championship titles stood for 45 years (broken by Michael Schumacher in 2003 who eventually went on to win seven titles). Fangio has long been considered the Grand Master of Formula One. Formula One cars have evolved significantly since 1950 and today, are almost unrecognisable when compared to their ancestry. The only visual similarities being that they are an open cockpit single-seater, open wheeled car.

The modern Formula One car is a mid-engined open cockpit, open wheel single-seater. Chassis are predominantly made of carbon fibre composites.

The entire car, including engine, fluids and driver weighs 702kg - the minimum weight set by FIA regulations.

Formula One cars are capable of reaching race speeds up to 330km/h.

However, a Honda F1 car running with minimum downforce, driving down a runway in the Mojave desert was able to reach a top speed of 415km/h in 2006.

The Championship There are two championships which run throughout the Formula One season; the Drivers Championship and the Constructors (Team) Championship.

Points are awarded to drivers based on finishing position of each race. The top ten finishers all receive points, with first place taking 25 points and tenth place taking 1 point. The exception in 2014 was the season final at Abu Dhabi, where double points were available.

However, this does not apply in the 2015 season. Points awarded to drivers are also awarded to the constructors which they drive for. At the end of the season, the driver and constructor who has amassed the most points is awarded their respective championship title.

1950’s The early years of Formula One featured pre-war cars from manufacturers including Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Maserati. All were front-engined and were either a supercharged 1.5 litre engine or a 4.5 litre naturally aspirated engine. The 50’s saw a number of changes and innovations including a number of engine capacity changes and a move from front engined cars to rear-mid engined cars. Disc brakes also made an appearance.

1960’s The 60’s saw a change in engine capacity down to 1.5 litres in an effort to increase safety. Fuel formulas used by teams also became standardised and moved away from aviation fuel.

The chassis saw a major makeover, moving from tubular frames to an aluminium sheet monocoque (shell) and the small steering wheels common to modern Formula One became popular.The famous DFV type Ford V8 engine made its debut in 1967.

Most importantly, in 1968 wings first appeared on Formula One cars; first they were small and subtle but soon, the wings became huge.

Engines The current engine used

by Formula One cars is a turbocharged 1.6 litre V6 “power-unit”. In addition to the combustion engine and turbocharger, theres a unit which collects kinetic energy through braking (MGU-K), a unit which collects heat energy through the exhaust (MGU-H), Energy Stores (ES) which store the collected energy and Control Electrics (CE) which manage the entire power unit. The MGU-K and MGU-H make up what is called the ERS (Energy Recovery System). The engine itself produces around 600bhp and the ERS can contribute approximately 160bhp of additional power for around 33 seconds per lap.

1970’s 1970 saw the introduction of the Lotus 72, the model which would become the grandfather of the modern single seater. The nose which had previously been open and used as a central air intake became a closed wedge with the radiators being moved to the side of the car.

1976 saw a six wheeled F1 car called the P34 (nicknamed the Centipede) make an appearance.

Turbocharged engines made an appearance in 1977, although initially they were unsuccessful.

At the same time, Lotus made a huge stride in aerodynamics with the Lotus 78 which utilised wind moving beneath the car to create suction and better road holding. This allowed for much greater cornering speeds.

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F1 TRIVIA • The winner of the first Formula One World Championship was Giuseppe Farina • Juan Manuel Fangio won the title five times in the 1950’s and his record stood for 45 years

WINTER 2015

• Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most titles, with seven to his name

•A lan Jones was Australia’s 2nd and last World Drivers Champion, winning in 1980

• Jack Brabham was Australia’s first World Drivers Champion, winning in 1959, 1960 and 1966

• The British and Italian Grands Prix are the only two events to have been held every Formula One season •T he Grand Prix has been held in Monaco since 1929

• In 1960, Alan Stacey lost his life when he crashed after a bird flew into his face while the car was at top speed.

Full visor helmets did not come into use until eight years later • The most powerful engine used in F1 was the BMW M12 which in 1986, was

estimated to produce 1400 HP during qualifying

• Wings did not appear on Formula One cars until 1968

• I n 1950, a pit stop involving refueling and tyre change took around 67 seconds

•A n F1 car can accelerate from 0 - 160km/h then stop in under five seconds

•T oday, a pit stop involving refueling and a tyre change takes around 3 seconds

•T he carbon brakes on an F1 car need to be at least 500˚ to work effectively and will work up to 1000˚

Steering Wheel

Handling In addition to slick tyres and suspension, cornering speed is maintained via “wings” mounted on the front and back of the car. These wings generate downforce (Which combines with “groundeffect”; creation of suction under the flat bottom of the car) to push the car onto the track, allowing for extremely high cornering speeds.

Carbon disc brakes are also used as they provide a very high level of performance.

The steering wheel on an F1 car is far more than than the name suggests. It is the critical interface between the driver and the car. Aside from the brake and throttle pedals, all controls for the car are on the steering wheel.

The car’s semi-automatic gearbox is controlled via the paddle shifters on the back of the wheel and there are a multitude of buttons on the front of the wheel, controlling things like the pit lane speed limiter system, the ERS and DRS controls, as well as fuel mixture and engine maps.

The steering wheel also features an LCD screen to transmit data to the driver, display optimal gear shift timing and allows Race Control to communicate with the driver.

Each F1 steering wheel can cost around $50,000 USD.

5

CONTRUCTORS (Teams) There are currently eleven constructors competing in F1®: • MERCEDES Drivers There are 20 drivers competing in the 2015 Formula One season (2 drivers per team). Most F1 drivers start their careers in kart racing competitions and make their way up through European single seater series like Formula Ford, Formula Renault, Formula 3 and the GP2 series. In order to race in Formula One, a driver must hold an FIA Super Licence.

This is to ensure the driver holds the requisite skills and is not a danger to others. Each driver selects an unassigned number between 2 and 99 which they keep for their time racing in Formula One. Number one is reserved for the reigning drivers champion who may use number one or their own number. 32 different drivers have won the world championship, with Michael Schumacher holding the record the for the most championships, seven.

•R ED BULL - RENAULT

• FERRARI

• WILLIAMS-MERCEDES

•M CLAREN HONDA

• FORCE INDIA MERCEDES

•T ORRO ROSSO RENAULT

• LOTUS-RENAULT

•M ARUSSIA - FERRARI

• SAUBER-FERRARI

1980’s Aerodynamics were a huge focus in the early 80’s with improvements in groundeffect technology and reductions in turbulence. The increased cornering speeds saw drivers struggle to brace their heads against the centrifugal forces generated. Rules were introduced to reduce ground-effect which in turn, reduced cornering speeds. 1981 saw the debut of carbon fibre monocoque (shell). Active suspension started to appear and turbocharged engines began to dominate the championship with a 1.5 litre fourcylinder engine capable of producing a minimum of 1250 HP and a top speed of 351.220 km/h. For safety reasons, the FIA then introduced new rules, handicapping turbocharged cars. Eventually the turbo engines were banned.

1990’s The early 90’s saw the 3.5 litre naturally aspirated engines break the 700 HP barrier.

The “high nose” was introduced (a raised nose cone) which helped improve downforce.

The active computer-controlled chassis which adapted to driving conditions and featured traction control began to dominate the championship in 1992. New fuel regulations were also introduced which limited certain additives. Driver’s aids (high tech electronics) were banned in 1994. In 1995, engines capacities were reduced to 3 litres following the tragic death of legendary driver, Ayrton Senna, the previous year. 1998 saw new technical rules reducing the width of the car from 2m to 1.8m.

Significantly, tyre rules were changed which required that tyres move from slicks to grooves. This significantly impacted cornering speed with the aim at improving driver safety.

2000’s In 2000, the V10 engine

configuration was made mandatory. It had been the most popular engine since the banning of turbocharged engines in 1989. Traction control was re-introduced in 2001. In 2005, the engine was changed to a 2.4 litre V8. Michelin left Formula One in 2006 leaving Bridgestone as the sole tyre supplier from 2007. In 2009, slick tyres were reintroduced to increase cornering performance.

Significantly, 2009 also saw the introduction of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) which stored energy under braking which could then be used to boost acceleration.

2010’s KERS was not used in the 2010 season which also saw the introduction of F-Ducts; a method to change the airflow over the rear wing which in turn, allows for a higher top speed through straights. KERS was re-introduced in 2011 along with the introduction of DRS (Drag Reduction System). DRS is a driver activated moveable flap on the car’s rear wing which can be used to reduce aerodynamic drag to increase top speeds. The purpose of both of these technologies is to promote overtaking and keep racing exciting. The tyre manufacturer was also changed from Bridgestone to Pirelli. In 2014 turbocharged engines were re-introduced in the form of a 1.6 litre, 6-cylinder, single turbocharger engine. The ERS (Energy Recovery System) was also introduced to replace KERS, allowing a boost of up to 120kW (around 160bhp).

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6 WINTER 2015

interview 1

2

3

The Isle of Man through the eyes of a racer Q: How would you describe the Isle of Man? A: When you arrive at the Isle of Man and you step off the boat, you know you’re at the hallowed ground of motorcycle racing. It’s the Mecca of motorcycle racing, it’s the Isle of Man. It’s the oldest motorcycle race in the world; it’s the longest course in the world; it’s the longest street circuit in the world and it’s the most dangerous motorcycle race in the world.

Q: What are you going to encounter in a lap of the Isle of Man? A: To begin with you start by heading down Bray Hill - the steepest downhill section of any motorcycle race in the world - straight into a dip that you hit flat out in top gear when you get it right and you don’t have to roll the throttle. Follow that up over Ago’s Leap, straight into a jump where you’re likely to have the front wheel near vertical in the air as you get airborne. That’s all within the first five hundred meters! You’ll pass thirty-odd pubs in a lap of the circuit, which are all brilliant spectating points. What other track in the world can you stand in a beer garden, literally less than one meter from the circuit?

If you wanted to, you could reach out and touch the bikes going past. As a rider it’s brilliant when you’re riding past and you can literally look into the eyes of the spectators standing there waving their programme, drinking a pint! Sometimes you wish you were joining them when things aren’t going so well with the bike on the track.

Q: What else do you deal with on a lap of the track?

A: Jumps. When you go over the humpback bridge at Ballaugh and you jump a meter to a meter and a half off the ground; it’s just incredible what you’re putting your body and your bike through.

A couple of miles down the road from Ballaugh is the fastest jump on the circuit which, when you’re doing a lap in the car, wouldn’t feel like much more than a small bump.

You hit that bump on a Superbike in fifth gear doing 150-160+mph, you’ll go fifty or sixty meters down the road before you touch back down on the ground.

Q: What’s it like to spectate at the Isle of Man? A: It’s unbelievable! It’s things that when people tell you, it’s hard to believe until you get over there and see it for yourself; until you get over there and sit on the hedge and watch it with your own eyes.

And that’s the great thing about the TT is you can do that. I mean, we love going to Grand Prix as motorcycle spectators. I know I do. I love going to my Grand Prix at Phillip Island and to some of the other Grand Prix I’ve been to around the world.

But there’s always that gap between the circuit and yourself. There’s a ripple strip, there’s a run-off area, there’s grass, there’s a fence. Not at the TT.

You can stand there in someone’s front yard, you can stand on the footpath and there’s nothing but a bit of rope bunting between you and those riders going past at….well, we’re nudging 200mph so what’s that, about 325kph. In a race, we complete six 67km laps, averaging over 200kph where some of the corners are dead-stop hairpins and you get down to first gear. Our lowest speed is probably about 50km/h and it feels like you could jump off and walk faster at the time. So to be able to go through corners that slow and still average over 200kph gives you an idea of just how quick the average section of the course is. It’s incredible! So fast, so exciting! But it’s always a buzz to sit on the hedge with the spectators and talk to fans that tell you that they’ve sat at this same spot for the past 1020 years sometimes. They’ll give you a tip that this is a different spot to watch or this is a great place to go for a feed or a pint. You don’t find that in any other motorcycle race in the world.

STAY UP TO DATE WITH CAMERON DONALD: camerondonald.com

“ When you arrive at the Isle of Man and you step off the boat, you know you’re at the hallowed ground of motorcycle racing.

It’s the Mecca of motorcycle racing, it’s the Isle of Man.”

PHOTOS: © PETER LAMONT AND COURTESY OF CAMERONDONALD.COM

1. Lining up at the start line 2. Leaning through a fast right 3. Cameron Donald takes the podium

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WINTER 2015

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journal

8 WINTER 2015

History of the Australian Jersey

GREEN AND GOLD In 1928, NSW and QLD Rugby Unions agreed that ‘the Australian amateur representative colours of green and gold, should be adopted’.

In 1929 when New Zealand toured Australia, the first official Australian Jersey was introduced - an emerald green jersey with the Australian Coat of Arms and green leg socks with green and gold bars on the top.

This uniform remained until 1961 when it became gold for the Australian tour of South Africa.

It has remained predominantly gold ever since. There were variations in 1933, 1937 and 1938. In 1933 when Australia toured South Africa for the first time, the Wallabies wore sky blue with the Australian Coat of Arms.

This is because at the time, both countries played in dark green jerseys.

(This courtesy was reciprocated by South Africa who wore white jerseys for test matches when Australia toured South Africa in 1953).

When South Africa toured Australia in 1937, the Australian jersey was changed to white with green and gold hoops. In 1938 when Australia played New Zealand, the Australian jersey was changed to gold with a dark green hoop - because it had been suggested that there was too much similarity between the dark green of Australia and the black of New Zealand.

The change to gold in 1961 was also to avoid any clash with South Africa.

It has remained predominantly gold ever since.

1899-1904

1905-1907

1914

1929-1961

PHOTOS: © REPRODUCTION

BLUE AND MAROON In 1899 Australia played its first Rugby Union test match. The opponent was the touring British Isles team and a three test series was played - two in Sydney and one in Brisbane. Because there was no national jersey, the team wore the jersey of the state in which they were playing, but with the Australian Coat of Arms in place of the state emblem or logo.

Therefore, for the first and third tests in Sydney, the jersey was blue with the coat of arms and for the second test in Brisbane, the jersey was maroon. This was also an indication of the makeup of the team which was dominated by NSW players for the tests played in Sydney and by Queensland players for the tests played in Brisbane.

The honour caps were quartered blue and maroon and the socks were also either blue or maroon. There are indications that from the turn of the century, the Australian Rugby Union was looking for a national jersey. In 1905 and 1914 colours were again shared. In 1905, Australia toured New Zealand and wore striped jerseys described in Jack Pollard’s book as maroon with blue stripes.

In 1914, NZ toured Australia and in May, 1914, the New South Wales Rugby Union (NSWRU) Executive Council recommended that ‘in view of the difficulty in securing jerseys of a purely Australian design at this late stage’, that the national team wears the colour of the State in which they are playing, but with the letter ‘A’ covering the State’s badge.

In 1908 and 1912, the Australian jersey was effectively the NSWRU jersey - blue with the Waratah, but with ‘Australia’ embroidered beneath the Waratah. Because the Australian Rugby Union was not established until 1949, NSWRU was the senior Union which would therefore explain why their jersey was used as the national jersey.

During WWI so many players enlisted into the army that the major competition virtually closed in NSW and Queensland until 1928. Until the Queensland Rugby Union (QRU) was re-established, the only representative team was NSW so the NSW teams that played international matches in the 1920s played in the NSW Jersey with the Waratah emblem.

These teams have since been accorded retrospective Wallaby status.

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WINTER 2015

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RUGBY IN AUSTRALIA 1820’s There are reports of Rugby games being played at Barrack Square in the city between the army and the crews of visiting ships.

1864 The First Rugby Union Club to be established in Australia was Sydney University

1874 Southern Rugby Union later re-named New South Wales Rugby Union - is formed.

1882 The first inter-colonial game occurred

1883 Northern Rugby Union is formed as the rugby body in Queensland

1888 Melbourne Rugby Union is formed in Victoria

1899 National team of Australia played their first test match

1903 Australia played its first test against the All Blacks

1908 The first Wallabies tour of the UK and America. The Wallabies competed in the 1908 London Olympics, winning the gold medal for Rugby Union.

1929 Australia adopts green and gold as its official colours.

Wallabies jersey is changed to dark green with the Australian Coat of arms.

1931 Bledisloe Cup was established

1949 Australian Rugby Union joined the International Rugby Board.

1961 Australia changes its jersey from dark green to gold to avoid confusion with the Springbok jersey.

1987 The first ever Rugby World Cup was held with Australia and New Zealand as co-hosts

1991 Wallabies were champions of the Rugby World Cup hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France

1999 Wallabies were champions of the Rugby World Cup, in Wales

2000 World record crowd in a rugby union match of 109,874 witnessed the ‘Greatest ever Rugby Match’ when a Jonah Lomu try sealed a 39–35 All Blacks win over the Wallabies.

2003 Australia host Rugby 1937

1961

1960’s

1990’s

1997-1998

2015

World Cup SOURCE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

journal

10 WINTER 2015

5 minutes with Higgers

We caught up with the captain of the RaboDirect Melbourne Rebels, Scott Higginbotham, between training sessions to chat about his team, his origins and his country. TEXT: GREG HO PHOTO: PETER LAMONT

Q: How did you get into Rugby? How did it all start for Scott?

A: It took me a while, I was sort of a late bloomer body-wise as well as footballwise. I played a lot of soccer and a lot of basketball growing up and did a lot of swimming. My father played for Wests Rugby in Brisbane and he’d made a lot of great friends and a lot of contacts through rugby and thought it was a good idea for me to go down and start playing. That’s what I did, I played local Gold Coast competition after school and just sort of progressed from there.

Q: That must be hugely satisfying for you.

A: Yeah look, it’s great to be a part of it. Again, I suppose being captain, there’s nothing you want more than an enthusiastic group of young blokes and that’s exactly what I’ve got here.

Q: What are some of the differences when you compare playing Super Rugby to playing representative rugby?

A: It’s interesting, I think Super Rugby is very fast these days and it’s not so much that you can get comfortable but I suppose you can get used to the way teams play. You can almost do that at test level but the difference is, it’s extremely hard. You’re playing the best blokes from each country and they know how to play and they’ve earned that spot.

Q: Y our first team?

A: Colleges Knights, Ashmore - they were my first team. I suppose you never forget where you come from and that was my first experience in rugby and it was just so much fun.

The camaraderie with all the boys; it’s different to what you do with your school-mates and how you are with them. You know, you’re all out there trying to achieve the same goal, it’s a different feeling.

Q: In an international squad, you’re likely to be teamed up with guys you’ve been matching up against only weeks before.

How do you turn competitors into team-mates?

A: It’s a tough one and some players find that really tough. I think you’ve just gotta accept that rivalry during Super Rugby and at the end of the day, when it comes down to it, you’re all playing for the same cause when you get to test level and that’s doing the best job for your country.

Q: D o you miss that aspect of playing with your school when compared to playing professionally?

A: Yeah it’s tough. I mean, there’s obviously a lot more pressure when you get to this level because you know, it is your job. It’s not just something you enjoy and something you do on weekends for a bit of fun then have a few beers afterwards with your mates. I mean, you still do that here but I suppose it feels a lot worse when you lose compared to when it doesn’t really matter.

Q: O f course, in your position as captain there’s a level of accountability that you can’t escape isn’t there?

A: Absolutely. I guess that’s the thing with being captain. You have to take on that responsibility and have a bit of that weight on your shoulders for the whole team and not just yourself.

Q: T he Rebels have started off the year in great form.

A: Yeah look, the boys have been playing very well. I suppose the boys just needed another year of playing Super Rugby and a little bit more experience. We’ve signed some good blokes with a bit more of that experience too and that helps the other blokes come along.

Q: Has there been a change in strategy coming into the 2015 season?

A: I don’t think so. I mean a lot of it comes down to experience in these teams. I think the teams that always

For me, one of the most special parts about playing for your country is being able to sing your anthem in front of tens of thousands of people.

PROFILE Date of birth: 05/09/1986 Place of birth: Perth, WA Height: 1.95 m Weight: 108 kg Position Blindside Flanker Number Eight TEAMS REDS (2008 - 2012) REBELS (2013 - present)

MATCH STATS Rebels Caps: 37 Super Rugby Caps: 102 Tries: 28 Points: 140 Test Caps: 28 Test Points: 15 WALLABY #848 Debut: 2010 v France, Paris Test Rugby Points: 15 Tries: 3 Caps: 31

do the best and succeed in Super Rugby are the teams that spend the most time together. You get a core group of guys that stick around for three to four years and you can really build something special and do some damage.

Q: It’s a fairly young team but many of you have been here since the beginning.

A: It is a young team. That’s why, I suppose the first couple of years were hard. The transition from the inaugural Rebels to now, with the young guys coming through; it was a slow start, but they’re really tracking along well.

Q: How does the training differ between club and test squads?

A: It’s always intense training at Wallaby level, it’s definitely a step up from Super. In both, guys are wanting to make their mark and be in that top fifteen. But that’s the thing, the difference is you’ve got the best blokes from each state; the top thirty blokes in the country and they’re all trying for those fifteen spots. Look, it is serious competition and it is tough but at the same time it’s very challenging and a lot of fun.

Q: What do you look forward to when you represent Australia internationally?

A: I suppose it’s always the same thing.

You just look forward to singing the national anthem no matter where it is. For me, one of the most special parts about playing for your country is being able to sing your anthem in front of tens of thousands of people.

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RWC facts 20

60+

25,000

6,000

4,000,000,000

2,000,000

2,000

151,000

10,000+

400,000

OFFICIAL TEAMS

MILLION TICKETS

1,400 RUGBY BALLS

CITING, JUDICIAL & MATCH OFFICIALS

MEDIA (WRITTEN PRESS & PHOTOGRAPHERS)

200

1,000

100

740

200

1,100

KICKING TEES

SPIN BIKES

TACKLE BAGS

BROADCASTERS

TEAM BEDROOMS

TEAM PERSONNEL STAYING AT HOTELS

ROOM NIGHTS

MEALS SERVED AT TEAM HOTELS

VOLUNTEERS

VOLUNTEER INTERVIEWS TO TAKE PLACE

VIEWERS ON TV

TRAVELLING FANS TO VISIT UK

15

11 km

11

CITIES

MARKET LEADING TRAVEL AGENTS ACROSS THE WORLD

42 km

1,016

OF COPPER DATA CABLES

MILES AND SIX MONTHS TO SELECT THE 6,000 VOLUNTEERS

51,948

20,000

OF FIBRE OPTIC CABLE

ACCREDITATION PASSES

HOURS BROADCAST COVERAGE

NEWCASTLE LEICESTER 04/10 06/10 11/10

Argentina v Tonga Canada v Romania Argentina v Na-

Leicester City Stadium Leicester City Stadium Leicester City Stadium

South Africa v Scotland St James’ Park N. Zealand v Tonga St James’ Park Samoa v Scotland St James’ Park

LEEDS MANCHESTER 10/10

England v Uruguay

Italy v Canada Scotland v USA

Elland Road Elland Road

Manchester City Stadium

MILTON KEYNES BIRMINGHAM 26/09 27/09

South Africa v Samoa Australia v Uruguay

Villa Park Villa Park

Tonga v Georgia Scotland v Japan Argentina v Georgia USA v Japan

Kingsholm Stadium Kingsholm Stadium Kingsholm Stadium

CARDIFF 19/09 20/09 23/09 01/10 02/10 11/10 17/10 18/10

Ireland v Canada Wales v Uruguay Australia v Fiji Wales v Fiji N. Zealand v Georgia France v Ireland Quarter-final 2 Quarter-final 3

Millennium Stadium Millennium Stadium Millennium Stadium Millennium Stadium Millennium Stadium Millennium Stadium Millennium Stadium Millennium Stadium

EXETER 29/10 07/10 11/10

Tonga v Namibia Namibia v Georgia Italy v Romania

Stadium MK Stadium MK Stadium MK

LONDON

GLOUCESTER 19/09 23/09 25/09 11/10

France v Canada Samoa v Japan Fiji v Uruguay

Sandy Park Sandy Park Sandy Park

England v Fiji France v Italy N. Zealand v Argentina France v Romania N. Zealand v Namibia England v Wales Ireland v Romania England v Australia Ireland v Italy South Africa v USA Australia v Wales Quarter-final 1 Quarter-final 4 Semi-final 1 Semi-final 2 Bronze Final Final

Twickenham Twickenham Wembley Olympic Stadium Olympic Stadium Twickenham Wembley Twickenham Olympic Stadium Olympic Stadium Twickenham Twickenham Twickenham Twickenham Twickenham Olympic Stadium Twickenham

BRIGHTON South Africa v Japan Samoa v USA

Brighton C. Stadium Brighton C. Stadium

journal

12 WINTER 2015

events

It happened in what has to have been the biggest weekend of sport so far this year. Lining up alongside the Australian Open finals, Asian Cup finals and the NFL Superbowl; in only it’s second year running, the 2015 Dick Smith NRL Auckland Nines tournament packed all 16 NRL teams into Eden Park, Auckland, for two days of what fans can only call ‘Rugby League Heaven’. TEXT: GREG HO

DICK SMITH NRL AUCKLAND NINES 2016 Early Feb, 2016 Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand

IF YOU’RE UNFAMILIAR WITH the Auckland Nines, here’s a quick rundown of how it works and differs to standard Rugby League in nine points (See what we did there?): 1. Nine men per side rather than thirteen, playing on a full sized field.

2. Nine minute halves as opposed to forty.

3. The tackle count allows five tackles instead of six before ball handover.

4. There is a ‘Bonus Zone’ between the posts in each try zone. Tries scored here are worth five points rather than four.

5. Conversions are taken as drop kicks rather than spot kicks.

6. If regular time finishes with scores tied, the game enters ‘Extra Time Golden Try’. This means that the first team to score a try during this period wins. Field goals and penalty goals do not count.

7. Teams are split into four pools of four and play a round-robin to reach the quarter finals.

8. Thirty-one games are played over the two day tournament at Eden Park.

9. Teams compete for their share of a $2.4 million prize pool.

PHOTOS: © PHOTOSPORT.CO.NZ

Auckland Nines Recap Our Auckland Nines weekend kicked off on Friday night with the Friday Night Extravaganza hosted by event organisers, DUCO Events. It was a great way to warm up for the weekend.

Around 1,500 League fans enjoyed a night on the waterside, joined by a few legends of the game including: Petero Civoniceva, Brent Tate, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri.

When we arrived at Eden Park on Saturday morning we were met by crowds of fans dressed up for the tournament in everything ranging from team jerseys and facepaint to the Cookie Monster, Tellie Tubbies and even Tonto from the Lone Ranger.

We weren’t even inside yet and the atmosphere was fantastic!

Once inside, the stadium was a hive of excitement. Fans were taking photos with one another, teams were arriving and a crowd was building on the terrace which overlooked the warm-up fields, to get a glimpse of teams preparing for their matches. When the tournament started though, it was all eyes on the field.

Games were fast and open, and every line-break and try was met with cheers and standing ovation. While there were supporters for every team in abundance, there was definitely a majority for the only local team in the NRL, the Warriors.

The crowd was loud for the Aussie teams, but when the Warriors took the field, the noise in the stadium was deafening!

The tournament ran it’s course and when the final match began, it was the 2014 NRL Premiers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, surprisingly facing off against the 2014 recipients of the Wooden Spoon, the Cronulla Sharks, who had also knocked out the local favourites, the Warriors in the Quarter Finals. Both sides came out firing and by full-time, incredibly, the scores were tied at 14:14. In extra-time, the Sharks defense looked impenetrable and they held the attacking Rabbitohs out for the first period. In the Second period though, it was retired veteran, Matt King, who crossed in the corner to seal the victory for the Rabbitohs in front of an electric crowd.

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WINTER 2015

Australian Open THE FIRST GRAND SLAM of the season, the Australian Open was a cracker this year! The weather was beautiful, the freshly renovated Margaret Court Arena was a hit and there were plenty of talented Aussies looking to make an impact.

In the Women’s Singles, our Aussie ladies got off to a strong start in the first round. Jarmila Gajdosova, Ajla Tomljanovic, Casey Dellacqua and Sam Stosur all winning through to the second round. Unfortunately though, all were knocked out before they reached the third round of competition. Our top ranked player, Dellacqua, pushed her match to 3 sets before succumbing to American, Madison Keys. While the ever hopeful, Sam Stosur, went down to another American, Coco Vandeweghe, in straight sets.

At the business end of the women’s tournament it was second seed, Maria Sharapova facing off against first seed, Serena Williams. Williams proved too strong however, taking the match in straight sets to claim her record sixth Australian Open title.

Australia has been in a bit of a drought for men’s tennis stars since the early - mid 2000’s and the days when Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis were at their best.

Coincidentally (or not) this was the same time that we saw the rise of the

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2016 18 - 31 Jan, 2016 Melbourne, Australia

The first Grand Slam of the season, was a cracker this year! The weather was beautiful, the freshly renovated Margaret Court Arena was a hit and there were plenty of talented Aussies looking to make an impact.

big four; Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

However, coming into Australian Open 2015, it felt like we might be seeing the start of an Aussie men’s resurgence.

We fielded plenty of Aussie men in this year’s Australian Open. Lleyton Hewitt, unbelievably returning for his 19th Aus Open; A seemingly re-focused Bernard Tomic; Big hitter, Sam Groth; Young Gun, Thanasi Kokkinakis and our new rising sensation Nick Kyrgios were only half of the men representing Australia this year. But having plenty of entrants doesn’t mean much if they don’t perform. Thankfully though, they did. Some of the greatest moments saw Kokkinakis (Special K) knock out 11th seed Gulbis in a nail-biter before matching up against fellow Aussie Sam Groth who proved too powerful for the teenager. Groth then found himself up against another Aussie, Tomic, in the 3rd round. Tomic took the match but bowed out to Berdych in the 4th round. Nick Kyrgios put on a great performance (with the occasional outburst) in his second Senior Australian Open, pushing through to the Quarter Finals before losing to Andy Murray.

When the dust from the Men’s Singles tournament settled, it was Novak Djokovic who was left standing after besting a frustrated Andy Murray in four sets. It was also a new record for Men’s Singles titles in the Open Era for Djokovic as he claimed his fifth Australian Open title.

Although the Aussies were all knocked out before we reached the semi-finals, overall it was, a very encouraging performance, especially when you consider that our top ranked player is still a teenager! It’s still eight months away but we’re already looking forward to Australian Open 2016!

#what’s on now!

The French Open is the second Grand Slam tournament of the year and the only one which features play on clay courts. The tournament is held at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris and it’s timing also signals the end of the spring clay court season.

The tournament’s roots trace back to 1891 when it was known as the ‘Championnat de France’ or the ‘French Championships’.

In 1925, the French Championship was designated as a major championship and was opened to all amateurs

internationally.

In comparison to grass or hard courts, clay courts slow the ball and produce a high bounce. Players who are strong on hard courts are generally less so on clay and as a result, there are only a handful of players who have won both the French Open and Wimbledon.

THE FRENCH OPEN 24 May - 07 June, 2015 Paris, France

F1® GRAND PRIX DE MONACO 2015 21 - 24 May, 2015, Monaco

North West 200.

Monaco GP.

Hosted within the Principality of Monaco and featuring a rich history extending back to 1929, the Monaco Grand Prix represents the most prestigious race in Formula One. The Circuit de Monaco follows a narrow course and features many elevation changes and tight corners as well as a tunnel. It is also the only active circuit which does not meet the safety standards which are imposed on all other

Formula One circuits.

Ayrton Senna holds the record for the most wins at the famous circuit, with five of his six wins being taken consecutively between 1989 and 1993.

Recently, the race has been dominated by Team Mercedes and driver, Nico Rosberg, who won in both 2013 and 2014. Mercedes is looking strong again in 2015 and no doubt Rosberg will be looking for the hat-trick in 2015.

One of the world’s most dangerous motorcycle races, the North West 200 has a history wich stretches back to the 1920’s. The race takes it’s name from its original intended location and distance - The race was to be held in North West Ireland and was originally a 200 mile race.

The North West 200 takes place in Northern Ireland on a street circuit called the Triangle.

The circuit is one of the fastest in the world and sees riders exceed 320km/h!

Due to its closely timed proximity to the Isle of Man TT, the North West 200 is often used by many TT riders as an opportunity to test their bikes and warm up for the TT. In 2016, Sportsnet Holidays will add to 150,000 annual visitors to the race as we take our first tour to the

North West 200!

NORTH WEST 200 May, 2016 County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

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journal

14 WINTER 2015

destination

Fiji IN 2009 WHILST HOLIDAYING in Fiji, Australian’s Rob & Sue Cecconi decided to paddle over and have a look at a resort that was for sale. Known as Walu Beach Resort it had been let go and looked like a big challenge, and Rob always likes a challenge! Having been to Fiji many times, Rob & Sue had fallen in love with Fiji and its people and their dream was to own a piece of land there. With two young children the timing wasn’t quite right so they let the opportunity go. Two years later the resort was again for sale, the timing was now better and so the journey to Fiji began.

In September 2012, Rob and Sue relocated to Fiji with their two young children to build a resort with a difference. Having always worked on a “Small Is Big” philosophy (it’s the small things in life that make the biggest difference) they set about creating a resort centred solely around customer service and the guest experience.

And so Tropica was born. A 4-star boutique resort catering especially for adults. Designed with a modern feel using local workmanship. All about

water and rock; stunning rock walls and rivers permeate throughout the resort, enhanced by flowing water, waterfalls and fishponds.

Looking out over a white sandy beach lined with palm trees, Tropica Island Resort nestles into a private sheltered bay on the beautiful island of Malolo. Offering elegant accommodation and lush tropical gardens, this is a resort centred around two key themes: Celebration and Rejuvenation. An ideal destination for a celebration, a romantic honeymoon or wedding, or for those just looking to reconnect with a loved one.

T O LEARN MORE ABOUT FIJI AND THE STUNNINGLY BEAUTIFUL TROPICA ISLAND

RESORT, PLEASE VISIT : tropicaisland.com

CELEBRATION & REJUVENATION Slip into total relaxation as you soak up the sun in the fresh water horizon pool overlooking the azure waters of the pacific, or sip on a cocktail as you lounge in the sunset bar.

Although located only a short distance from Nadi International Airport, you will feel a million miles away as the stress and worries of everyday life begin to disappear.

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TO ACCESS COMPLETE SPORTS CALENDAR, PLEASE VISIT: sportsnetholidays.com

TM © Rugby World Cup Limited 1986.

1. Rugby World Cup 2015

Rugby World Cup 2015 is shaping up to be the biggest Rugby World Cup since the Tournament’s inception in 1987!

This is in no small part due of course, to the Game returning to its home nation, England and more specifically, its home venue – the awe-inspiring Twickenham Stadium! Even now, just thinking about the Wallabies’ third pool match against the Old Enemy at ‘The Cabbage Patch’ is enough to send shivers down your spine!

MORE INFO: sportsnetholidays.com/events/ rugby/world-cup-2015-packages/

2. Tour de France 2015

Without a doubt the most prestigious race in cycling, the Tour de France is also one of the most coveted events in world sport at large! First staged in 1903, the Tour de France has steadily grown in length and participation over the years to become the massive, iconic event that it is today – 23 days; 21 stages; approximately 3,500km in distance covered; 22 teams and 198 riders from all over the world!

Combined with the stunning mountain landscapes that the riders have to navigate, the Tour de France is one of the most challenging sporting events that needs to be experienced in person to truly be appreciated!

MORE INFO: sportsnetholidays.com/events/ cycling/tour-de-france-packages-tours/

5. 2015 Wimbledon Championships

The pinnacle of prestige in world tennis is still without question Wimbledon, played at the home of tennis, the All England Lawn Tennis Club. In 2014, Novak Djokovic defeated arch rival, Roger Federer in a 4-hour epic. However, in Australia, all we were talking about was the incredible performance of rising tennis star, Nick Kygrios. After a breakthrough performance, saving nine match points to defeat Richard Gasquet, Kygrios went on to beat the then world number one, Rafael Nadal! In doing this, Kygrios became the first player outside the top 100 to defeat a world no.1 since 1982. Could we see him in the final this year?

3. 2015 Formula 1® Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix

Although every F1® race is unique in it’s own way, there’s simply no other race that can provide the entertainment value, excitement and, well, ‘awesomeness’ that the Singapore Grand Prix provides! The only night race on the 2015 Formula 1® calendar, the atmosphere at the Singapore race is absolutely electric, and one that needs to be experienced by every F1® fan!

MORE INFO: sportsnetholidays.com/events/ formula-one/singapore-grand-prix/

MORE INFO: sportsnetholidays.com/events/tennis/wimbledon-championships/

4. Holden State of Origin 2015 - Game 3 The final match of the 2015 series is set to take place at the QLD Maroons’ home-ground, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane. After claiming their first Origin series victory since 2005, can the NSW Blues make it back to back series victories in 2015 in what is very likely to be the series decider in front of a sea of maroon jerseys!?

MORE INFO: sportsnetholidays.com/events/rugby-league/ state-of-origin-dates/

SPORTSNET ARE PROUD TO BE OFFICIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH:

16 WINTER 2015

last look

The Breakfast That Stops a Nation!

ENSURE THERE IS A SEAT with your name on it at the 2015 Sportsnet Cup Day Gala Breakfast!

This first-class event is not only a fabulous way to start Melbourne’s most famous day of the year, but the ONLY Emirates Melbourne Cup Day breakfast event of its kind!

Held inside the world class Palladium at Crown, this event will feature an exciting line up of specialguest performers including Australian music icon, Daryl Braithwaite; and now in its seventh year, it just keeps getting bigger & better!

Save the first Tuesday of November in your diary and be prepared to strut the green turf carpet and share with us, a morning of great fun, exquisite food and excellent entertainment at what is shaping up to be the most spectacular Sportsnet Cup Day Gala Breakfast yet!

journal

Continuing on from the success of the Gala Breakfast, we are now excited to introduce to you The Oaks Day Champagne Brunch!

This classy morning of feminine fun will be hosted by a celebrity fashion personality and includes entertainment, live music, a premium brunch cocktail menu, beauty pamper stations and tastings of the finest quality of Champagnes.

Where better to start Ladies Day than inside the iconic Myer Melbourne Bourke Street department store?!

This is where our hidden gem of a venue is located! (Last minute accessories anyone?)

Tickets are selling fast for both Melbourne Cup Carnival events so contact the friendly team at Sportsnet to secure your seats today!

2015 MELBOURNE CUP GALA BREAKFAST 03 Nov, 2015 Crown Palladium at Crown Entertainment, Melbourne