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The Classic Wallabies

Description The Classic Wallabies rugby union team are an invitational team composed of current and former Australian National rugby union players.2 Traditionally, to be invited to play for the Classic Wallabies, you have to have a earned an international cap at Senior Level for Australia, the Wallabies. This is constituted by getting on the field during a sanctioned rugby union match between two international teams. However, it has proven difficult to fill a squad completely with ex-wallabies. As a result, to round out the team if there are not enough willing Wallaby capped participants, players who have been involved in Wallaby tours or represented Australia in other international formats, like for the Australian Sevens or under 19/20/21 level have often been included.2 This is an unpaid, voluntary team. The Classic Wallabies was established for two primary reasons. Firstly, they endeavour to sustain and enhance the network of relationships of former professional Australian rugby union players.2 The nature of sport and in particular the game of rugby union was founded in mateship and off-field relationships, and the Classic Wallabies seek to prolong this experience for players nearing the end or post retirement. This extends to their contribution to players who have been forced to retire with debilitating injuries, helping them both financial and in a transitional sense to working life beyond rugby.2 Secondly, by harnessing the profile of these ex-players, the Classic Wallabies are able to significantly contribute to the wider rugby playing and non-rugby playing community. All of their fixtures are based around community work, and use their time not playing to inspire potential future Wallabies, through training camps and charity days.8 The Classic Wallabies are a relatively low-cost operation and behind the scenes responsibilities are undertaken primarily by passionate former players, lead by 16 times Wallaby capped Stephen Hoiles8, with the help of Australia’s Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA).5 The majority of the RUPA’s work on behalf of the Classic Wallabies, revolves around media articles and liaising with tournaments/local community clubs. History Preceding any formal branding, the Classic Wallabies was unintentionally born out of informal gatherings of past players on nights preceding current Wallaby matches. This was a tradition of former players through the 70’s and 80’s, where they would meet up to watch and support the present-day team2, inadvertently rekindling old relationships and networking about current career pathways.

However, in 1990, the official Classic Wallabies were born, as a team of past-wallabies were invited to contest an invitational over-age and retiree competition in Bermuda. The tournament was to be made up of counterpart players from other established rugby nations (Ireland, New Zealand, England etc..). All invited teams were instructed to prefix their national rugby union team names with Classic and as such, the Classic Wallabies name was officially established.2

To assist with the function and growth of the team, a formal founding committee and team management positions were established. These dedicated former players or employees of the Wallabies were responsible for broader macro decisions regarding funding, sponsorship and charity associations, along with on-field player selection and the organisation of specific tours and events.

More recently, the Classic Wallabies have been officially recognized and included under the Wallabies banner, with the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) taking over the operations of the team.7 Along with a new generation of previous Wallabies, RUPA, who are responsible for the welfare and career development of current players, have been given an active role in the direction of the team. This centralised funding has seen a rise in the number of events being conducted and their effectiveness. Notable Players As the team draws on previously capped Wallabies, the Classic Wallabies have many internationally recognized players play for them. Along with multi-capped individuals, notable players include dual international representatives Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuquiri.1 Hall of Fame inductees David Campese, Simon Poideven and Tim Horan have also been involved in either a playing or management capacity.9 Additionally, non-Wallaby notable players include former Manly rugby league Legend Steve Beaver Menzies, Super Rugby journeyman Dave McDuling and Australian Sevens star Henry Hutchison.2

Playing Strip Like the Australian National rugby union team, the Classic Wallabies playing strip is based off the national colours of Australia; a traditional gold base with green highlights.1 Alongside logo branding, the Classic Wallabies jersey has both the Australian Coat of Arms and the Wallabies branding embroidered on the right and left of the players chest respectively. Rounding out the strip, both the playing shorts and socks are a base colour of green with gold accents.2 The Wallaby mascot and team name is based off the indigenous animal, the Wallaby.11 This animal and its habitat is also inspiration for the national team colours, gold and green for its connotative connection to the green outback and gold sand of Australian Shores. Community Involvement The Classic Wallabies primary function is to assist in the betterment of the existing amateur and professional game in Australia. Not only is this is achieved through their extensive fund raising but through their hands-on clinics, where they endeavour to inspire the next generation of Wallabies, and get the opportunities to meet and learn from some of the past notable players.

The Classic Wallabies run an array of events, including rugby union Lunches, Golf and Horse Racing Days, and the opportunity to travel with the team. All the funds raised are directed toward ensuring a thriving and inclusive grassroots and amateur rugby union environment, along with providing financial assistance to the professional players who have had their careers cut short by injury.

Notable Events The Classic Wallabies often conduct non-recurring one off events and their growing schedule is ever-changing. However, a notable fixture has been their participation in the Hong Kong Rugby Club (HKRC) 10’s in both 2017 and 2018.5 The HKRC 10’s gathers invitational teams from around the world in the week preceding to Hong Kong Leg of the World Rugby Sevens Series. This tournament equally prioritises on field matches with off-field rugby undertakings. This is one of only a few events where the Classic Wallabies get the opportunity to leave a lasting footprint on the underprivileged rugby community outside of Australia. Additionally, this is an important event for annual funding as it allows the Classic Wallabies to showcase their sponsors on an international level.4 In addition, it is often noted that touring, or travelling as a team is the most heralded of mate ship and relationship forming activities as you are constantly engrossed in each other’s company.

The Classic Wallabies also played a warm up match against the Barbarians in Tweed Heads in 2017.7 This was in preparation for the Barbarians Match against the Wallabies the following week. This match was won in a tight contest by the Barbarians. Notable Rivalries The Classic Wallabies have taken a particular interest in fixtures against their Fijian counterparts in recent years for several reasons. Firstly, Fiji’s team of former players, who are branded the Fijian Legends, are comprised of several very talented and entertaining former players.8 It is often noted that Fiji has produced some of the most skilful and exciting rugby union players, and thus it is lucrative for the Classic Wallabies to want to organise rugby union fixtures against Fijian retirees.10 Secondly, Fiji provides a unique environment of concentrated impoverishment, as opposed to other rugby playing nations who are more commonly first world. This means that simple events held in Fiji have a much more meaningful impact; both reaching a broader amount of people and they are of greater value than similar events held in Australia. It is often difficult for the Classic Wallabies to provide value in Australia, where sporting and charity days are very common, and the need for fundraising and offering of clinics is over-saturated in Australia’s sport crazy market. As a result, Fiji provides the perfect landscape for the Classic Wallabies to fulfil their second primary objective; giving back to grassroots rugby world-wide.8

The Classic Wallabies have played against the Fijian Legends three times over the course of the last two years. Despite the superior team of players on paper assembled by both squads, the Fijian Legends have proven victorious on all three occasions. The first of these fixtures was played at a break of formal proceedings of the Sydney Sevens 2017. This fixture was played in front of over 25000 at the Sydney Football Stadium, the largest audience for a Classic Wallabies match by some margin. This game, played according to the rules of rugby union sevens, provided some interesting insights for spectators. Former Australian rugby union player Drew Mitchell, wore a live microphone that gave intricate glimpses into the match otherwise uncaptured by television cameras and microphones. Fans were not only able to hear the severity of impacts and heaviness of his breath, but heard little insights about the match happenings; the on-field problems that had arisen and the solutions that he offered. Additionally, he was also able to communicate with commentators during the game, all of which contributed to more inclusive and enjoyable viewing. Lastly, this microphone captured a comedic interaction with Stephen Hoiles who was running waters to players. Hoiles, who also had a camera strapped to his chest, filled a water bottle with spoiled milk, and gave this to a tired and parched Mitchell.3 This moment of ensuing hilarity was again an additional part of entertainment previously unseen in competitive matches.

This was intended by the Classic Wallabies to again bring more interest into rugby union, in an effort to ensure rugby unions global and domestic prosperity.2 They hoped that this exhibition game, which showcased former notable Australian and Fijian rugby union players, and also provided unique insights into a live sporting match that differed to professional rugby union and other sporting matches, that they could raise the profile of the game.

Additionally the Classic Wallabies have played against the Fijian Legends in a curtain raiser for Australia’s domestic provincial rugby competition, the National Rugby Championship (NRC), in 2017 and 2018. These matches, played in the Fijian Capital of Suva, are the culmination of a week filled with clinics, rugby union lunches and golf days. They are seen as invaluable weeks by the Fijian public. In 2018, the Classics ran clinics at two schools; Sigatoka Special School and Cuva College. They also visited patients at Sigatoka Hospital. It provides an influx of foreign observers to Fijian rugby, which aids sponsorship and tourism endeavours. The week culminated in a fixture played before the Melbourne Rising and Fijian Drua NRC match, and won by the Fijian Legends 52-19 and was. The Classic Wallabies were represented by former Wallabies; Sam Cordingley, Stephen Hoiles, Stephen Moore, Patrick Phibbs, Beau Robinson, Radike Samo ,Lote Tuqiri and Laurie Weeks. Jimmy Holbeck was the team manager. Morgan Turinui was the head coach and was assisted by injured players Rob Horne and Samu Kerevi. Values Unlike other professional teams, with primary win and profit objectives, the Classic Wallabies is solely run to better rugby union in Australia. As result, all their endeavors are conducted in line with their four core values of Respect, Inclusion, Mateship and Passion.2

References 1‘Australian National Rugby Union Team’ 2018, in Wikipedia: The Free Encylopedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., Available at  [10 September 2018]

2’Fairburn, P’. (2018). Classic Wallabies. [online] Rugby.com.au. Available at: https://www.rugby.com.au/teams/classic-wallabies [Accessed 3 Oct. 2018].

3’Fairburn, P’. (2018). Classic Wallabies. [online] Rugby.com.au. Available at: https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/09/25/fijian-legends-classic-wallabies-suva [Accessed 9th November 2018]

4’Hong Kong Football Club’, (2018), Teams. [online] hongkongtens.com. Available at http://www.hongkongtens.com/teams2.php [Accessed 4 Oct. 2018]

5‘Hong Kong FC’ 2018, in Wikipedia: The Free Encylopedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., Available at < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_FC>[Accessed 13 September 2018]

6‘Rugby Union Players Association’ 2018, in Wikipedia: The Free Encylopedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., Accessed 11 September 2018 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Union_Players%27_Association

7‘Stephen Hoiles’ 2018, in Wikipedia: The Free Encylopedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., Available at  [Accessed 12 September 2018] 8‘The Fijian Rugby Union’, 2018, in Latest News, fijirugby.com Available at http://www.fijirugby.com/latest-news/classic-wallabies-set-for-fiji-tour (Accesed 8th of Novemeber)

9’The Australian Rugby Union’, (2017), About Classic Wallabies. [online] classicwallabies.com.au. Available at https://www.classicwallabies.com.au/news/ [Accessed 3 Oct. 2018] 10’The Australian Rugby Union’, 2017, About Classic Wallabies. [online] Available at classicwallabies.com.au. https://www.classicwallabies.com.au/event/fiji-tour-2018/ [Accessed 9th Novermber 2018]

11‘Wally (Wallabies Mascot)’ 2018, in Wikipedia: The Free Encylopedia, Wikimedia Foundation Inc., Available at  [Accessed 12 September 2018]

Your draft article, Draft:Classic Wallabies


Hello, Dhorwitz1. It has been over six months since you last edited the Articles for Creation submission or Draft page you started, "Classic Wallabies".

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Thanks for your submission to Wikipedia, and happy editing.  SITH   (talk)   12:15, 30 April 2019 (UTC)

Your draft article, Draft:Classic wallabies


Hello, Dhorwitz1. It has been over six months since you last edited the Articles for Creation submission or Draft page you started, "Classic wallabies".

In accordance with our policy that Wikipedia is not for the indefinite hosting of material deemed unsuitable for the encyclopedia mainspace, the draft has been nominated for deletion. If you plan on working on it further, or editing it to address the issues raised if it was declined, simply and remove the, , or  code.

If your submission has already been deleted by the time you get there, and you wish to retrieve it, you can request its undeletion by following the instructions at this link. An administrator will, in most cases, restore the submission so you can continue to work on it.

Thanks for your submission to Wikipedia, and happy editing.  SITH   (talk)   12:15, 30 April 2019 (UTC)