While the Wallabies and All Blacks head to Hong Kong for a Bledisloe Cup clash, closer to home, in the heart of the Pilbara to be precise, the heated cross Tasman rivalry continues to simmer as Australia and New Zealand do battle in the annual ‘Bloody Slow Cup’ for Police Legacy in Newman.

Each year the local community and participants from around the state get together for the annual rugby match to commemorate four WA police officers who died in a plane crash in the north west town nine years ago. Local officers Constable Gavin Capes, First Class Constable David Dewar, Senior Constable Phillip Ruland and Perth-based pilot Senior Constable Donald Everett died when their police plane crashed as it was about to land at Newman airport on Australia Day in 2001.

More than 5,000 spectators are set to converge on Boomerang Park, keen to see if Australia can retain the Cup after defeating New Zealand last year for the first time in the competition’s five year history.

RugbyWA development staff, with the assistance of the Department of Sport and Recreation, have spent much of the past week in the Pilbara region visiting a number of isolated schools and mine sites and conducting rugby education sessions in the lead up to the Cup on Saturday.

Emirates Western Force scrumhalf Justin Turner will also make the trip north to assist with the rugby sessions and to present the Australian ‘Bloody Slow Cup’ team their jerseys before the big game against the Kiwi’s.

There are a range of activities that starts with the Legacy Golf Day on Friday 22 October and is followed up by junior games and Golden Oldies competitions played as curtain raises to the main event on Saturday evening. A thorough recovery session for all on Sunday completes a big three days!

The match kicks off at 6.30pm, Saturday 23 October

RugbyWA