Have you ever wondered what would happen if you mixed Hong Kong Sevens with the Monaco Grand Prix? Probably not. However, what was a fun idea thrown around at the pub six years ago has evolved into the flourishing new sport of Aqua Rugby. Returning for its second season with a bunch of big marquee signings, Australia’s first-ever floating rugby tournament is back to make a splash in Darling Harbour from April 11-13th, 2024.
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So you may be asking yourself, “What the f!@# is Aqua Rugby?” It’s a quirky version of Rugby played on a 30 x 30-metre floating pontoon. Players have to dive off the floating pitch into the water to score a try and can be crash-tackled off the side. If it’s anything like the previous years, prepare to see an abundance of big hits and big splashes.
The action on the floating pontoon is set to go up another level with a mix of former and current rugby greats as well as up-and-coming rugby talent playing in both the Men’s and Women’s formats. This year’s ambassadors include:
- Wendell Sailor
- Bernard Foley
- Drew Mitchell
- Adam Ashley Cooper
- Nemani Nadolo
- Sera Naiqama
- Mitchell Pearce
- Todd Carney
- Daniel Conn
- Jimmy Galvin (CEO of Aqua Rugby)
In addition to the stars, plenty of local players from around Australia will descend upon Darling Harbour to compete for the Aqua Rugby trophy.
“We wanted to combine our love for Rugby with a new modern format, bringing a new fresh feel to the sport in the hopes to engage a new audience into the world of Rugby,” said Aqua Rugby CEO and co-founder Jimmy Galvin.
“After some amazing events in Manly, we were keen to try a new location where Aqua Rugby can be more accessible to people across Sydney, so Darling Harbour will offer an iconic and central new location for the tournament, to a truly diverse audience.”
Fans can watch the action for free from the beach and promenade, with food, music, activations and play zones for kids taking place along the shoreline. Or if you’re feeling boujee, Aqua Rugby is partnering with Bollinger to offer VIP premium hospitality packages ($440pp) that come with a dedicated member of staff, ready to look after the group for the entirety of the session and serve up culinary offerings courtesy of the iconic Nick’s Seafood.
The latest season of the 3-day Aqua Rugby Festival on the water will take place from Thursday the 11th of April until Saturday the 13th of April. For tickets and more information, visit the website linked below.
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