The Centenary of Rugby League in Australia celebrations in 2008 commemorated a century of rugby league football being played in Australia beginning in 1908. Throughout 2008, the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and National Rugby League (NRL) celebrated 100 years of rugby league in Australia with several initiatives to recognise the important milestone, including an extensive marketing campaign called the Centenary of Rugby League.
The competition began in March, with a special Heritage round held in mid-April, coinciding with the first round of competition played in 1908.
- Stamps salute Centenary of Rugby League https://www.auspost.com.au/BCP/0,1467,CH4595%257EMO19,00.html (check archives for) http://www.stamps.com.au/collectors/previous-issues/2008 (http://www.webcitation.org/5q7l6yEeA) (confirm print) http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=29990 (http://www.webcitation.org/5q7lHwkZB)(features, descriptions and quotes)
- Commemorative coins http://www.ramint.gov.au/media/press-releases/2008/20080307.cfm (http://www.webcitation.org/5q7lho2CM)
- National Museum of Australia exhibition. legends of league http://www.nma.gov.au/exhibitions/league_of_legends/ (http://www.webcitation.org/5q7mHhd71)
- National Museum tackles rugby league history on ABC National Radio http://www.abc.net.au/rn/sportsfactor/stories/2008/2250119.htm (http://www.webcitation.org/5q7mUmbnM) (inc transcript)
- an extensive marketing campaign called the 'Centenary of Rugby League'.
- campaign logo
- Centenary logo explained http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihWWzOM9jfs
- "I salute the contribution that Rugby League has made to Australia's national identity, it's a tough game. It started as a working man's game; it's become every man's game now. It still retains that working class character and that's part of its heart and soul and I hope it always does, but it is also a game that has reached out to the entire community." - John Howard, Australian Prime Minister. http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Rugby-league-centenary-logo-launched/2006/11/27/1164476124524.html, 27 November 2006 (http://www.webcitation.org/5q7lPlJVE)
- campaign logo
- These events began in August 2007(??? 2006 quote from PM.) with a re-enactment of the meeting which led to the formation of the New South Wales Rugby League, essentially the beginning of rugby league in Australia.
- In January and February 2008, several of the foundation clubs, the Newtown Jets, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Balmain Tigers, Sydney Roosters, North Sydney Bears and Western Suburbs Magpies, hosted special functions at the places they were officially formed.
- The 2008 NRL season began in March.
- club logo variations
- In addition to the Telstra Premiership logo appearing over the right upper chest on each team's playing jersey, the "Centenary of Rugby League in Australia" logo was displayed just above to commemorate the competition's centenary.
- The opening match of the 2008 season was held between the remaining two "foundation clubs" from 1908, the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
- club logo variations
- At a Gala event on 17 April 2008 the Team of the Century was announced, being: Full-back: Clive Churchill; Wingers: Ken Irvine, Brian Bevan; Centres: Reg Gasnier, Mal Meninga; Five-eighth: Wally Lewis; Half-back: Andrew Johns; Lock: John Raper; Second Row: Norm Provan, Ron Coote; Props: Arthur Beetson, Duncan Hall; Hooker: Noel Kelly; Reserves: Graeme Langlands, Dally Messenger, Bob Fulton, Frank Burge; Coach: Jack Gibson.[1]
- A special Heritage Round was held from 18-21 April, coinciding with the first round of competition played in the 1908 season.
- ? A special rivalries round took place which coincided with the 100th anniversary of the first round of competition in the New South Wales Rugby League, whereby teams faced opponents that entered the competition in similar time frames, such as the Brisbane Broncos and Gold Coast Titans, Parramatta Eels and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, North Queensland Cowboys and New Zealand Warriors, Bulldogs and St George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights, Wests Tigers and South Sydney Rabbitohs, and the Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders.
- May 9 Centenary Test at the SCG
- August. Indigenous Australian Rugby League Team of the Century named.
References
edit- ^ "Team of the Century Announced". National Rugby League. 17 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2010-05-30. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
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External links
edit- centenaryofrugbyleague.com.au, the official website
- australianrugbyleague.com.au, the official website of the Australian Rugby League
- nrl.com, the official website of the National Rugby League
Category:History of rugby league