National Rugby League coming to Franklin Field Nov. 30

By: Mark Gress Jr.

Posted: 11/5/04

On Tuesday, Nov. 30th you may hear and see something you have never heard or seen in Philadelphia. When it comes to chants, cheers and jeers, you almost never would hear or see the Tomahawk chop or the chant that coincides with it. Once in a blue moon, when the Atlanta Braves come to town to play the Philadelphia Phillies, a few brave fans from Atlanta may start the chop. But on November 30th, right down 33rd Street at Franklin Field, you may hear it from just about everyone in the stands. Around 7:30 that evening, the U.S.A. Tomahawks, our National Rugby League representative will take on the Australian Kangaroos. The chants and Tomahawk chops should be in full force that night!

In a football (not soccer) crazed city like Philadelphia, this rugby match appears to be a gold mine. This city lives and dies with the success of the Philadelphia Eagles. From high school, through college and all of the way up to the NFL, Philadelphia is a football town. So, let me offer a less expensive, harder hitting alternative. This alternative is rugby. In its simplest terms, rugby is like football but without the pads. I'd go as far as to say that the guys who play are simply crazy. And if it's "the hits, the bangs and the blocks" (which I borrowed from the cowboy who sings the Monday Night Football song) that you enjoy and love about football, then November 30th is a must see.

As for the competition and the excitement, you can go no further than the team the U.S.A. Tomahawks will be trying to upset-the Australian Kangaroos. I'd equate them to the New York Yankees in terms of dominance. Whenever you hear about rugby, the Aussie's team is second to none. Coming to see the world's best compete is reason enough. Coming with the hope of a U.S.A. upset is even more of a reason.

The U.S.A. Tomahawks started a few years back and have built their team by choosing the best players from the American National Rugby League (AMNRL). They represent the Red, White and Blue versus international competition that has included: England, Canada, Fiji, Russia, Japan, and Italy among others.

The fans will be treated to the sport of rugby league at its highest level. Students with an ID only pay $5, and all young people under the age of 18 enter for free; so, all of you leap year babies or "young" freshman, that means you! Fox Sports World will be presenting the game LIVE in Australia and the U.S. and delayed to England. Drexel University's sports management students, faculty and staff will play a role in almost all of the game-day operations from ticket-taking to interviewing players for the Fox Broadcast.

The viewing audience will probably be enormous, but there is nothing like experiencing the game in person. I personally have experienced many NFL games live and the experience there trumps any type of surround sound audio system or high-definition television. I simply cannot wait to see my first rugby contest that evening at Franklin Field. The history of Franklin Field; the highest level of play from the Aussie's; International competition post-Olympics; it all just breeds excitement. So come be a part of history in the making at Franklin Field on the campus of the Pennsylvania Quakers on November 30, 2004.