Name:  Sharon Frank

 Status:  Junior

 Major:  Athletic Training

 Hometown:  Plymouth, MI

 Program : Summer  Sports Program Down Under – Sydney, Australia, Summer 2010

During my time in Sydney, we were able to attend a State of Origin rugby game, which is comparable to the Pro Bowl for American football, except that the State of Origin game is taken way more seriously than the Pro Bowl is in the United States. The game is played in ANZ stadium (the stadium that housed the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney) and is a HUGE rivalry between New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. If it helps, just think of the Michigan/Michigan State rivalry except on a much bigger scale. Now rugby is not the most popular sport played in the States, so I didn’t know much about it. This is where taking classes abroad can be really unique because the morning before the rugby match we talked about Australian sports in class and learned the rules and history of rugby. And that very night, I was able to experience the influence of rugby on the Aussie culture! If I had to compare it to anything, I would compare it to a Michigan State football game. We sat in the “student section,” wore matching shirts, and even learned the cheers for NSW. The problem is, the experience can’t really be compared to anything else because it’s completely different than anything else I’ve ever encountered. Rugby is a totally different sport than football and has its own vibe. The pace is quick and you can feel the different involvement levels of the crowd. There are those hardcore rugby fans that analyze every play and yell at the players as if they can hear them. Then there are those people who just enjoy the social aspect of the event, while occasionally following the game. Finally, I suspect that many were there simply for the beer and the good times. Nevertheless, they were all united by one thing – being Australian. I was shocked when the national anthem was played because everyone sang at the top of their lungs. It was the most heartfelt anthem I’ve ever heard. They were Australians and they knew it – and they were proud of it! Being there to hear that was one of the best experiences of my trip because it was proof of the Australian national identity. They may be a smaller country with less people, but they have big hearts and pride for their nation to rival the world.