Are You Ready For Some RUUUGBYYYYY?!...And Some WowCow?

This past Sunday I rounded up some troops to venture with me to my first ever rugby game. My only other previous encounter with rugby was in the movie theaters when I saw Invictus, starring the handsome Mr. Matt Damon (call me! I will fold your napkins for free!). Aside from enjoying watching my talented boyfriend parade across the screen in short man-shorts, I also enjoyed watching the game of rugby on the big screen. It made me want to see the real thing in person, and since rugby is so popular in Australia I decided that going to a game was a must while here.

Accompanying me were Sara and Aubrey (who you have met already and should know by now), and two newbies: Dan and Lorenzo. Dan is the “caretaker” of my apartment. He is a young Aussie lad, originally from two hours north of Sydney, who lives in the other share house owned by my landlord. She hires him to help keep our place in order. Basically he re-stocks our toilet paper and takes out our trash (for which I am grateful). We got chit-chatting the other day about rugby and I mentioned that I really wanted to go to a game. Dan said he used to play rugby, had also wanted to see a game and would be happy to take us (as in the three gals). Perfect! I had recruited an Aussie who a) had a car and could transport us to and from the game and b) was a rugby expert who could explain to us what was actually going on. Lorenzo is Dan’s Italian flat mate who he invited with us to the big game.

We arrived to the game late because we took a few “detours” on the way (we got lost). The stadium was jammed pack with over 18,000 people clad in red, white and green (I felt like I walked into a massive Christmas party) to watch the St. George Dragons take on the South Sydney Rabbits. The Rabbits were the underdogs. I did not find this shocking; the odds don’t seem to be in favor of a small, fluffy, furry, white bunny rabbit (the mascot looked like the Easter Bunny) taking down a monstrous, scaly, mythical creature with massive, sharp claws who breaths fire (this mascot looked like Puff the Magic Dragon). But hey, anything is possible right? The loyal fans surrounding us were certainly hoping so! We had purchased tickets for the Standing Hill section, which was basically a big, grassy mound that looped along the whole right side of the stadium, where everyone who was too late in purchasing their tickets to get an actual seat had to sit. We clambered over blankets, bodies and booze until we made our way to the top of the hill, amidst a sea of Rabbits fans. And so we rooted for the underdogs (or underrabbits, I should say). 

The WIN Jubilee Rugby Stadium

First-timer Rugby Fans

The game was fun. The fans were rowdy. And the Rabbits got devoured by the Dragons (no David vs. Goliath ending on this one). Did I mention that Russel Crow is the owner of the Dragons? Obviously they were going to win, the Gladiator is their boss! And he was at the game. I saw him. My first Aussie celebrity sighting! Well sort of, I only saw his face on the game screen but that still counts, right?

Watching rugby builds up your appetite for sweet things, so after the game we decided to get some dessert. Dan took us to WowCow. All I have to say is “WOW.” WowCow is now my new favorite place. It is a frozen yogurt shop, sort of like a Pinkberry back in the states, except that this frozen yogurt place also happens to sell its own version of churros with chocolate. Random, I know, but they are the tastiest thing I have eaten since being in Sydney. WowCow’s churros are long sticks of baked dough covered in cinnamon and sugar that you dip in melted Belgium chocolate. I don’t know whether I should thank or curse Dan for introducing them to me because they are addictingly (new adverb) delicious. I will be starting a petition to open WowCow in the U.S., and when I do I will be asking all of you to sign it. It is in your best interest, as well as mine. Oh, and they have a massive cow hanging upside down from the ceiling. That alone is worth another visit. 

Devouring our Churros With Chocolate at WowCow

The WowCow on the ceiling