In July 2009 the AURL team completed a very successful tour to South Africa, creating history along the way by being the first Australian represenative rugby league team to tour there. The tour was confined to the Johannesburg/Pretoria region with the following itinerary:
Itinerary
15 July: Depart Sydney/Brisbane for Johannesburg via Singapore
16 July: Arrive Johannesburg and coach transfer to Potchefstroom (approx. 160 km south west of Johannesburg). Mayoral reception at Council Chambers that evening
18 July: 3.00pm match Vs South African Rhinos national team at Ikageng Stadium Potchefstroom
19 July: Depart Pothefstroom by coach to accommodation in PilanesbergNational Park (approx. 100km west of Johannesburg), including half day safari park tour and Sun City Tourist Resort (casino) visit
20 July: Depart by coach for Pretoria (approx. 80km north of Johannesburg)
22 July: Depart by coach for accommodation in Johannesburgand 7.45pm match Vs South African Rhinos “A” Team, at Bosman Stadium Brakpan (an outer suburb of Johannesburg)
25 July: Travel by coach to TUKS Sports Facility, PretoriaUniversity, for 2.00pm match Vs TUKS Bulls. Coach return to Johannesburg.
26 July: Visit to Lion & RhinoPark on outskirts of Johannesburg
27 July: Depart for home via Singapore
28 July: Arrive Sydney/Brisbane
Match Report
In the first two games the opposition was very competitive especially given the fact they had been assembled from a wide area of the country and had little preparation for each match. The AURL won the main match against the Rhinos 46-12 and the Rhino “A” match 52-6. The third match was against the university team TUKS Bulls that plays in the local province competition.
Their season does not commence until late August and although putting in a spirited display they were outclassed 74-12. The keenness and professionalism of the TUKS club officials in particular impressed. All three games were played in the right spirit and there was certainly no doubting the effort of the opposition; they were big and mobile and it was really the superior skills and knowledge of the game that gave the AURL team the edge.
