In a city accustomed to sporting crossovers, Wallabies captain Harry Wilson and winger Harry Potter obligingly kicked a Sherrin in front of news cameras at the MCG on Wednesday. Featuring players from AFL club Essendon, the media event was designed to promote Saturday’s Test against the British & Irish Lions, and drive ticket sales towards the crowd of 90,000-plus Rugby Australia is hoping for. Behind the two Harrys, the rugby posts had been installed but the Australian rules ones also remained, not yet giving over the field for the northern code to borrow for the day on Saturday.
Despite the dominance of Australian rules in the winter sporting marketplace, Melbourne has produced a crop of international rugby union players, including John Eales medal-winner Rob Valetini, Potter, other Wallabies such as Seru Uru and Hunter Paisami as well as Scotland captain and Lions centre, Sione Tuipolutu.
