The Anzac Test is an annual rugby league football test match (known as the Bundaberg Rum Test from 2004–2008 and the VB Test in 2009 for sponsorship reasons). Inaugurated in 1997, the test is played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around Anzac Day for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

Australia and New Zealand had competed in Rugby League Tests since 1908. The Anzac Test, played on or around Anzac Day, was introduced by Super League (Australia) in 1997. When New Zealand was defeated 56–0 in 2000 the Australian Rugby League (ARL) was criticised for playing the match before the State of Origin series. The Test was then dropped from the annual schedule in favour of match in mid-July. In 2002 and 2003 Australia defeated Great Britain (64–10) and New Zealand (48–6) in July Test matches, so the Bundaberg Rum Test (as it became known for sponsorship reasons) was revived the following year.

Naming controversy[edit]

The Anzac Test was controversial for its use of the term Anzac (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) and its perceived comparison of professional sportsmen with soldiers. However Super League donated a large sum of money to the RSL, and Bruce Ruxton featured in commercials for the inaugural Anzac Test, proclaiming

"Mark my words, Australia is still in grave danger from one of our so-called neighbours. The Kiwis were once our allies and now they’re on the other side – at least for 80 minutes".

The word Anzac is protected in Australia by The Protection of Word "Anzac" Regulations (under the War Precautions Act Repeal Act 1920) and requires permission of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs for use in commercial events. This permission was given for the event from 1997–1999.

From 2004 until 2008 the match was officially called the Bundaberg Rum League Test, after the principal sponsor, Bundaberg Rum. For the 2009 fixture, the principal sponsor was Victoria Bitter and, as such, the match was officially called the VB Test. Despite the official name change, it is still common for the match to be called the Anzac Test.

Trophy[edit]

Two different trophies have been awarded for the winner of this Test. For the 1997–1999 Anzac Tests, the winner was awarded the Anzac Trophy, which depicted an Australian slouch hat and New Zealand lemon squeezer hat.

Since 2004, the winner of the Bundaberg Rum League Test has been awarded the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy. This trophy was donated in 1996 by Gerald Ryan ONZM, a past president of the New Zealand Rugby League. It is named after Bill Kelly, a New Zealand rugby league player in the early 20th century.

The Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy was briefly stolen by three 25 year old New Zealand men after Australia's victory in the 2006 Test. It was found several hours later on the awning of a nearby building. The trophy currently resides at the Australian Rugby League headquarters in Sydney.

In 2011 the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy was not played for in the ANZAC Test, but instead in a one-off post-season test match.

Demise and Reconception[edit]

In 2007, the New Zealand Rugby League announced that the ANZAC Test would not be contested after 2008, citing difficulties with selecting their best possible team for a match held at that time of year. According to the NZRL Director of Football, Graham Lowe, "We have an obligation to play Australia in Sydney on 9 May next year, because it is their centenary test, and we will fulfil it, but that will be the last one." Although the NZRL did not think that the Anzac Tests were still a viable option, they were "optimistic an international calendar will be adopted.".

After New Zealand's win in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, the release of new RLIF world rankings, and the introduction of a new international schedule, the annual mid-season test between Australia and New Zealand was revived. The 2009 fixture was played on 8 May in Brisbane.

The 2010 ANZAC Test, played on 7 May, was the first game of football at Melbourne's newly constructed AAMI Park.

The 2011 ANZAC Test was scheduled to be held at AMI Stadium in Christchurch however the match had to be rescheduled at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast due to the February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake.

The 2012 ANZAC Test was held at Eden Park, Auckland, on April, 20th, 2012 and was adjudicated by English Referee, Richard Silverwood. The 2013 Test is to be held in Canberra to celebrate the centenary of that city.

Overall tally[edit]

Team	Wins
Australia	12
New Zealand	1

1. Includes the Australia (Super League) victory in 1997.

Results[edit]

April - May matches[edit]

October matches[edit]

2013 April Test[edit]

Squads[edit]

Australia	Position	New Zealand
Billy Slater	Fullback	Josh Hoffman
Darius Boyd	Wing	Sam Perrett
Greg Inglis	Centre	Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Justin Hodges	Centre	Dean Whare
Brett Morris	Wing	Jason Nightingale
Johnathan Thurston	Five-Eighth	Kieran Foran (c)
Cooper Cronk	Halfback	Shaun Johnson
James Tamou	Prop	Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
Cameron Smith (c)	Hooker	Isaac Luke
Matthew Scott	Prop	Jesse Bromwich
Sam Thaiday	2nd Row	Kevin Proctor
Greg Bird	2nd Row	Frank Pritchard
Paul Gallen	Lock	Alex Glenn
Kurt Gidley	Interchange	Ben Matulino
Nate Myles	Interchange	Sam McKendry
Luke Lewis	Interchange	Elijah Taylor
Anthony Watmough	Interchange	Tohu Harris
Tim Sheens	Coach	Stephen Kearney

- Captain Simon Mannering was replaced by Alex Glenn after withdrawing from injury only hours from the match. Tohu Harris was called into the squad for Glenn's bench spot to make his debut for his country. The change also resulted in Kieran Foran earning his first captaincy title for his country.

Match Summary[edit]

29 April 2013, 8:00pm

32	Australia
Tries	1 Cronk (6') 1 Inglis (51') 1 Morris (54') 1 Lewis (59') 1 Boyd (61') 1 Hodges (73')
Goals	4/6 Smith (7', 52', 60', 75')
12	New Zealand
Tries	1 Hoffman (40') 1 Pritchard (78')
Goals	2/2 Johnson (40', 79')
Field Goals

Half Time: 6 all

Referee: Ashley Klein

Venue: Canberra Stadium, Canberra

Attendance: 25,628

Score progression
6th – Australia 6–0 (Cronk try, Smith goal)
40th – Australia 6–6 (Hoffman try, Johnson goal)
51st – Australia 12–6 (Inglis try, Smith goal)
54th – Australia 16–6 (Morris try)
59th – Australia 22–6 (Lewis try, Smith goal)
61st – Australia 26–6 (Boyd try)
73rd – Australia 32–6 (Hodges try, Smith goal)
78th – Australia 32–12 (Pritchard try, Johnson goal)

See also[edit]

Rugby league portal

• Australia vs New Zealand in rugby league
• List of results of the Australian national rugby league team

References[edit]

1. ^ McCann, Liam (2006). Rugby: Facts, Figures and Fun. UK: AAPPL Artists' and Photographers' Press. p. 80. 
2. ^ League of Legends: 100 Years of Rugby League in Australia. National Museum of Australia. 2008. pp. vii. ISBN 978-1-876944-64-3. 
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ [2]
5. ^ [3]
6. ^ ARL Media release. "VB Test Match tickets on sale today!". Australian Rugby League. Archived from the original on 6 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-04. 
7. ^ NZRL Media release. "Marshall to Captain Pirtek Kiwis in Anzac Test". League Unlimited. Retrieved 2009-05-04. 
8. ^ pictured here
9. ^ "Fan steals Anzac Cup". The Sydney Morning Herald. 6 May 2006. 
10. ^ Michael Brown (10 June 2007). "League: NZRL move to red card Anzac tests". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2009-05-04. 
11. ^ "League: League: Aussies grumpy over schedule release". New Zealand Herald. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-04. 
12. ^ http://sportal.com.au/league-news-display/kangas-resist-late-surge-90828
13. ^ Annual Report 2005 – Australian Rugby League
14. ^ Jessup, Peter (1999-04-24). "Valiant Kiwis can hold heads high in defeat". The New Zealand Herald (APN Holdings NZ Limited). Retrieved 2009-10-06. 

• "W(h)ither ANZAC Day? – The Legal Protection of "ANZAC", Digger History website. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
• "Fan Steals ANZAC Cup", Sydney Morning Herald website. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
• "NZ League To Take Hard Line With NRL", xtraMSN website. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
• "The Protection of National Icons", Advisory Council on Intellectual Property. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
• "Killing ANZAC", Digger History website. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
• "Reveller Slammed as ANZAC Cup Goes Walkabout", nzherald.co.nz website. Retrieved 27 July 2006.
• "NZRL move to red card Anzac tests", New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 June 2007.

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