ANZAC Test

ANZAC Test

The ANZAC Test (also known as the Bundaberg Rum Test for sponsorship reasons) is a Rugby League Test match played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around ANZAC Day. The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) have announced that they will not contest the ANZAC Test after 2008.

History

Origins

Australia and New Zealand had competed in Rugby League Tests since 1908. The ANZAC Test, played on or around ANZAC Day, was introduced by Super League (Australia) in 1997. When New Zealand was defeated 56-0 in 2000 the Australian Rugby League (ARL) was criticised for playing the match before the State of Origin series. The Test was then dropped from the annual schedule in favour of match in mid-July. In 2002 and 2003 Australia defeated Great Britain (64-10) and New Zealand (48-6) in July Test matches, so the Bundaberg Rum Test (as it became known for sponsorship reasons) was revived the following year.

Naming controversy

The ANZAC Test was controversial for its use of the term "ANZAC" (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) and its perceived comparison of professional sportsmen with soldiers. However Super League donated a large sum of money to the RSL, and Bruce Ruxton featured in commercials for the inaugural ANZAC Test, proclaiming

:"Mark my words, Australia is still in grave danger from one of our so-called neighbours. The Kiwis were once our allies and now they’re on the other side - at least for 80 minutes". [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-help/nz-anzac.htm]

The word ANZAC is protected in Australia by the "The Protection of Word "ANZAC" Regulations" (under the "War Precautions Act Repeal Act 1920") and requires permission of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs for use in commercial events. [http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:VOCN_WUOq3AJ:www.acip.gov.au/library/Icons%2520ACIP%2520Report%2520to%2520Parl%2520Sec%2520final.pdf+anzac+name+legal+protection+legislation&hl=en&gl=au&ct=clnk&cd=8&client=firefox-a] This permission was given for the event from 1997-1999. [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-help/killing-anzac.htm] Since 2004 it has been officially called the Bundaberg Rum League Test, after the principal sponsor, Bundaberg Rum. Media outlets sometimes still describe the game using its original name.

Trophy

Two different trophies have been awarded for the winner of this Test. For the 1997-1999 ANZAC Tests, the winner was awarded the ANZAC Trophy, which depicted an Australian slouch hat and New Zealand lemon squeezer hat.

Since 2004, the winner of the Bundaberg Rum League Test has been awarded the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy ( [http://www.abc.net.au/rugbyleague/2004/galleries/ANZACTEST/images/09_lockyer.jpgpictured here] ). This trophy was donated in 1996 by Gerald Ryan ONZM, a past president of the New Zealand Rugby League. It is named after Bill Kelly, a New Zealand Rugby League player in the early 20th century.

The Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy was briefly stolen by three 25 year old New Zealand men after Australia's victory in the 2006 Test. It was found several hours later on the awning of a nearby building. [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/fan-steals-anzac-cup/2006/05/06/1146335956710.html] The trophy currently resides at the Australian Rugby League headquarters in Sydney.

Demise

The New Zealand Rugby League has announced that the ANZAC Test will not be contested after 2008, citing difficulties with selecting their best possible team for a match held at that time of year. According to the NZRL Director of Football, Graham Lowe, "We have an obligation to play Australia in Sydney on May 9 next year, because it is their centenary test, and we will fulfil it, but that will be the last one." [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10444646]

Overall tally

# Includes the Australia (Super League) victory in 1997.

Results

Trivia

* The home team has never lost.
* Only one ANZAC/Bundaberg Rum Test has actually been played on ANZAC Day.

ources

* [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-help/nz-anzac.htm "W(h)ither ANZAC Day? - The Legal Protection of "ANZAC"] , Digger History website. Retrieved 27 July, 2006.
* [http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/fan-steals-anzac-cup/2006/05/06/1146335956710.html "Fan Steals ANZAC Cup"] , Sydney Morning Herald website. Retrieved 27 July, 2006.
* [http://xtramsn.co.nz/sport/0,,12050-6096689,00.html "NZ League To Take Hard Line With NRL"] , xtraMSN website. Retrieved 27 July, 2006.
* [http://72.14.235.104/search?q=cache:VOCN_WUOq3AJ:www.acip.gov.au/library/Icons%2520ACIP%2520Report%2520to%2520Parl%2520Sec%2520final.pdf+anzac+name+legal+protection+legislation&hl=en&gl=au&ct=clnk&cd=8&client=firefox-a "The Protection of National Icons"] , Advisory Council on Intellectual Property. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
* [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-help/killing-anzac.htm "Killing ANZAC"] , Digger History website. Retrieved July 27, 2006.
* [http://subs.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=518&ObjectID=10380638 "Reveller Slammed as ANZAC Cup Goes Walkabout"] , nzherald.co.nz website. Retrieved 27 July, 2006.
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10444646 "NZRL move to red card Anzac tests"] , New Zealand Herald. Retrieved June 10, 2007.

ee also

* Australia National Rugby League team
* New Zealand National Rugby League team


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • ANZAC Test — L ANZAC Test est un rencontre annuelle de rugby à XIII entre les sélections d Australie et la Nouvelle Zélande qui se déroule près de la date de la Journée de l ANZAC (ANZAC étant l acronyme de « Australian and New Zealand Army Corps ») …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Anzac Day — Dawn Service at Kings Park, Western Australia, 25 April 2009, 94th anniversary Observed by Memorial services, public holiday Type Patriotic, Historical …   Wikipedia

  • ANZAC — army formations and units include both Australian and New Zealand troops. The term ANZAC originated as an acronym for the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, an army corps of Australian and New Zealand troops who fought against the Turks in… …   Wikipedia

  • ANZAC — (homonymie) Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. ANZAC peut faire référence à : ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), un corps d armée formé de troupes australiennes et néo… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ANZAC (disambiguation) — ANZAC is an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, an army corps that fought at the Battle of Gallipoli in World War I and was disbanded in 1916.ANZAC may also refer to:* ANZAC biscuit, a traditional Australian and New Zealand biscuit …   Wikipedia

  • ANZAC (homonymie) — Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom. ANZAC peut faire référence à : ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), un corps d armée formé de troupes australiennes et néo zélandaises qui… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Test match (rugby league) — A test match in rugby league is a match between two rugby league teams that represent their nations. As in test cricket, a rugby league test match is a test of strength and competency between the sides involved, both fielding their strongest… …   Wikipedia

  • Darren Lockyer — Lockyer playing for Australia at the 2008 World Cup Personal information Full name Darren James Loc …   Wikipedia

  • List of dual-code rugby internationals — A dual code rugby international is a rugby footballer who has played at the senior international level in both rugby league and rugby union. Rugby league started as a breakaway version of rugby in Northern England (1895) and in New Zealand and… …   Wikipedia

  • Melbourne Rectangular Stadium — AAMI Park redirects here. For the stadium in Adelaide known as AAMI Stadium, see Football Park. AAMI Park AAMI Park …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”