I started massaging at Brumbies Rugby for the 2013 season.
2023 is season number 11.
Round 4 V Pasifika is the match I was honoured to do pre-game massage, a game I will never forget.
Massage Therapists are there during the week from pre-season to finals. We have the privilege of working closely with the athletes but often aren't involved with season functions and game days.
I love game day, where all the hard work comes together, and I have wanted nothing more than to be on the sideline and in the changing room to sing the team song.
I've watched these men grow from earning their first professional contract to making their debut, then making their starting debut, to playing their 50th cap, from being a team newbie to the team leader, and then transition into retirement (
).The afternoon started in the AIS function rooms, where I had 5 x 10-minute massages from 5 pm; I arrived at 4.15 pm, which I now know was too early (I’d be told to be there at 4.30 pm). Then we headed to the stadium while the team did their thing in the team room and headed for warm-up. I had two more massages, and they headed out for the warm-up. My job is done now.
I have worked game days before, but never for the home team, so I found myself standing on the wrong side! The Moana side but then Benny A appeared with his girls, and we had a quick chat before I found a window of opportunity to head to the Brumbies dug out.
When I’ve worked for the away teams, I’ve sat back on the bench at the back of the dugout, where you can see an obstructed view of the game. This is where I positioned myself until the manager, Mal, said, you can’t see from there, pull up a chair at the bench. So I got a chair and sat beside the S&C coach, who had positioned himself just behind the bench. I wasn’t sitting for long, noticing that some other staff were standing, so I decided to stand because it made me feel more at ease.
Moana scored first, and I remember thinking, oh my goodness, I’m a jinx! But the boys pulled through and ran away with it in the last quarter of the match. Full credit to Moana; they have significantly improved from their first season and pushed the Brumbies with the final score of 62-36.
Another reason I was excited about working the Moana game is for the chance to say hello to Christian Lealifano.
For those that don’t know, Christian was diagnosed with Leukemia at the end of the 2016 season. He had his treatment which included a bone marrow transplant, and made his way back to professional rugby and is the current captain of Moana.
I have fond memories of Christian and still remember the day his illness was published in the media. The last time I saw Christian was two days before the quarter-final; he told me he had been feeling really tired and wasn’t recovering like usual. I gave some reassuring words, it’s been a big year of footy, and you have a maximum of 3 games to go. The Brumbies lost the final, which I believe was good for Christian because he could take the time he needed to investigate. I think Christians' body awareness and early intervention enabled him to achieve the best outcome possible.
Not only did I get to see Christan at the stadium as I was heading off home, but he also popped into Brumbies HQ while I was there on Wednesday. I am grateful for both of these moments and for knowing Christian, whom I had a personal joke pain scale with him, “on a scale of 1 to black jelly beans, how sore is it?”
Overall I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to know the athletes I work with as the people they are, not the sport they play.
The Brumbies will always hold a special place in my heart.
My 9-month-old niece Zoe attend her first brumbies game. She loved it and was excited to be there. Stansport even crossed over to Zoe just before play resumed after halftime, so she’s been in the newspaper for NYE and on the TV! Knowing she would likely be asleep by the end of the game, I went to see her and Nicole before kick-off.
I stayed in the sheds until after the team song, which I joined in the huddle and sang as many of the words that I knew, making a mental note to make an effort to pay attention and sing the song when they play it post-match, in case I get invited into the game day sheds again.
The Brumbies would love your support by attending their games. They had just over 7,000 attend Saturday night’s game, compared with 14,500 at the Raiders on Sunday night. Imagine how much of a boost they would get if we had doubled the attendance! They’re already winning and playing good footy, and they would love nothing more than to share this with you.
Their next home game is Saturday, the 1st of April, against the Waratahs. This is a game not to be missed! Kick-off is 7.35 pm. There is plenty of parking at the stadium, or you can park up at CIT and take the short walk down the laneway. You can bring your own non-commercial food/snacks and drinks in sealed plastic bottles. If you don’t need to rush off, they have been doing fans on the field after home matches, so you can meet and chat with the boys after their media commitments are done.
Up the Brumbies!!
“The Brumbies will always hold a special place in my heart.” - me too Clare and everyone in the Brumbies community that’s makes it special. Especially you!