Article from the RUGBY UNION WESTERN
World in Union
STUDENTS GIVE COMPETITION AN INTERNATIONAL FLAVOUR
Jon Geddes
WESTERN Sydney can have the Wanderers because the northern beaches now have the Bandicoots.
The supporters of the Manly’s International Col- lege of Management Sydney sixth division rugby team have added real glitz and glamour to the competition.
The college has students from 43 countries and more than 200 of them descended on Manly Oval last Satur- day to cheer on their side intheir first local derby again- st Manly Savers.
The atmosphere was what one normally associates with US college American football as the crowd sang and chanted under the di- rection of the team mascot.
While many members of the team had never played the game before, their fan base would be the envy of every rugby team.
‘‘You can’t get better fans,’’ team manager Rowan Courtney-O’Connor said. ‘‘To see the team get sup- port from all over the world is great – to see more women than men is quite funny.’’
The team has a real Unit- ed Nations feel to it.
‘‘Our Norwegian player was a little bit worried, he wasn’t sure what was going on,’’ he said.
In their first game one American player ran over the tryline without ground- ing the ball, thinking he had scored a touchdown.
The college beat the Savers 22-20 to the delight of their supporters.
One of those fans cheering on ICMS was Norwegian student Helle Ostemsem.
‘This is my first rugby game, I have never been before,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m enjoying it, having a good time looking at the boys. It’s good for the spirit of the school and everyone painted their faces.’’
On Saturday the team plays Burraneer at Bantry Bay Reserve.
GLOBAL GAME
The ICMS rugby squad has players from Australia, New Zealand, the US, South Africa, Korea, Germany and Norway.
Enthusiastic supporters of the International College of Management Sydney rugby team get right into the spirit of things at Manly Oval.
Picture: VIRGINIA YOUNG
