A diary chronicling the 1999 Rugby League World Cup tour, led by Michael Fischer, has been released. The diary offers a glimpse into the experiences of the players and officials, capturing both the mundane and the extraordinary moments of the trip.
that toured France, Ireland and England, Michael Fischer , was also the English head teacher at Holsworthy High.
After a good lunch and a couple of questionable doctors’ examinations behind closed doors, all members of the team were announced fit to tour. However the next few hours of training was to be the final test of fitness. To start off at training we did a “silly sixteen”, then a couple of hard drills on the tackle bags and the hit pads, which was then followed by a good fifteen minutes of hard shuttles. By this time I think just about everyone was pretty much stuffed.
The weight session was quite a light session, ending with AB work. After breakfast all the boys, after a break, headed off to the field to work on our defence. Going over the patterns and getting the general idea and feeling throughout the side. After an exciting game that was very controversial we headed off to lunch and had quite a nice feed.
We worked on our attack the next morning, we were all a bit rusty but finally learned all the calls and looked pretty sharp by the end of the session. Coach Greer gave us the arvo off and headed into Warringah Mall. It was a relaxing arvo which we all needed. A few boys bought some stuff for the plane.
Lunch followed our training session and once again the Australian Schoolboys left a small amount, if any, food for the cricket academy, who ended up sharing a loaf of bread. A few hours of free time was followed by an afternoon training run which looked smooth, sizzling and sensational. After that most of us watched the Australians tumble to Pakistan’s spinners. Gilchrist and Langer should get Australia home, being the good judge that I am.
We seen locals sleeping in gardens, so I joined them for a brief minute. It would have been a great photo if we were allowed to take our cameras in the terminal. It’s now 11.30-midnight and we are taking off for our second leg of the journey: ENGLAND.DAY 6, BANGKOK-LONDON-TOULOUSE-LIMOUX, NOVEMBER 23 – Mark Gasnier
We then got a bus to Limoux and arrived at our apartment, with Dunga, Braith and I scoring the best room in the hotel. We had a short training run to blow out the cobwebs and then came back to our apartments and called it a night.DAY 7, LIMOUX-CARCASSONNE, NOVEMBER 24 – Blake Henzell We wake up at 7:30 for breakfast. It was very good. Just ask the boys. Then we had training at 8:30am. It was cold, the temperature was about 3C and there was even frost on the field. We did a pretty good warm-up and then we got into it. Then we train as a side, green vs yellow.
Training was short and sharp, with the team starting to gel really well for the first Test. Many of the boys were really starting to get excited about the game. As this training session was successful, coach Greer decided it was our last before the game. As we head off for the game, everyone is feeling good and ready to play. The game seemed like it only went for 20 mins. We won 76-0. Shane Tronc was named players’ player and Braith Anasta was man of the match.
After weights it was off to lunch at ‘Monte Carlos’ for pasta and meat. After lunch it was back to the hotel, where we had free time for 2hrs before training again. Most of the boys caught up on some sleep, while others just relaxed. At 4.30pm, we boarded the bus back to Carcassonne, ready to play a combined Carcassonne/Toulouse team. For 8 players, today was very special, because it would be their first time in the green + gold strip. These players were Alby Talipeau, Anthony Quinn, Brent Tate, Warren Aiken, Greg Boulos, Blake Henzell, Mark Minichiello and Daniel Ninness. The rest of the team was made up of players backing up from Saturday’s Test.
After the match, we had a function at which Corey Parker + Muppa Langi were awarded the players of the match awards. After a small meal at the function we were still hungry, so we went and spent $30 each at Maccas on the way home. When we got home, we all packed and went to bed, dreaming of all the wonderful things we had experienced in France and all the wonders that lay ahead in Ireland .
Training was absolutely freezing and we started off jogging and stretching on various fields. At the foreclosure of training we had a few push-ups to concede. Most of the team done 200 push-ups, while Johnny Row and Clayto did a few extras and took it on the chin.DAY 15, DUBLIN, DECEMBER 2 – Mark Minichiello
After training we went to Osha’s pub with mud all over our training clothes, all looking like pigs. We had sandwiches and drinks and then set off back to the hostel. Dinner that night was Shepherd’s Pie and Goose of the Day was Jamie Lyon .DAY 16, DUBLIN, DECEMBER 3, TOUR MATCH – Daniel Ninness After the function, all the boys went out to experience Dublin’s nightlife. From what I saw and hearing everyone’s stories and opinions, they all thought it was a good night as well. All in all, just another memorable day on tour.DAY 17, DUBLIN-MANCHESTER-WHITEHAVEN, DECEMBER 4 – Christian Orsini
We arrived at our hotel ‘Summergrove’ at 9.30pm. After we had sorted our rooms out, which were much more comfortable than the ones in Ireland, we had some late night tea as the boys were pretty peckish after all the travelling. After this all the team look for some shut-eye due to the fatigue from all the travelling as well as our match tomorrow. All in all it was yet another experience.
During the game I think all the boys discovered the weather climates of England as we had to face treacherous rain and wind. The final score swayed in our direction, putting us in good stead for the upcoming Test. Thank you for being a part of this excellent team.DAY 19, WHITEHAVEN-CUMBRIA, DECEMBER 6 – Anthony Quinn
Someone had stolen my key to my room and I was stuck outside until about 11 o’clock, then I caught Junior trying to put the key back in the door.DAY 20, CUMBRIA-WIGAN, DECEMBER 7 – John Rowbotham The first Test is coming up and the tension is building. I know I will be nervous, but in a good way. The boys have been my family since we left Sydney and it’s going to feel different saying goodbye. But they’ve been there for me and each other and that’s what makes a team as good as it is. OUR TEAM!Australian Schoolboys 1999 tour profile.After a bit of a sleep-in the boys woke ready for the last game before the first Test.
We went to the power plant today and we all learnt a great deal on nuclear energy and what Homer Simpson does. And we learnt not to go near the stuff, because a bloke who works there and also plays for Lancashire came in contact with it and had to shave all the hair from the waist up off, poor bloke.
The boyz slept about 9.30, ready for the big day. I guess you could call it that I had a big Saturday night out. The anthem was sung with passion and feeling and the boys looked determined as ever. The game was what everyone expected, very physical and quick, with it being a punishing and bruising game. Big hits was much a part of the game, with the good old Aussie boys storming out on top.
After breakfast we packed quickly and jumped on the bus for the 1hr 30min trip to Leeds. The morning papers were full of stories about the game + most of it bagged us. Then when we got back to our 5 star luxury motel, everyone started snowball fights. We had tea at 6.30 then it was back to the snowball fighting. People on the roof, ambushing everyone. It was GREAT FOOTY, what was a boring start to the day turning out great.DAY 27, LEEDS, DECEMBER 15, TOUR MATCH – Mark Greer
Preparation for the game was focused but low-key. The team set the following goals for the game against Yorkshire:3. Discipline beating Yorkshire 64-0. Once again the team improved. Mark Minichiello was players’ player, which was thoroughly deserved. Anyway on the Hull – a nice quality hotel right in the city centre. Shops! Pubs! Food! Everyone’s happy! Boys swim, train, lunch. I catch up on some managerial jobs and check out the local area. Dinner, movies, a few drinks closes Day 28 of our time.
We have been very lucky with weather on our tour; today is clear and reasonably mild. We expect and excellent surface tonight. We all slept in after a late night celebrating the second Test win. Many stories were shared on the long bus ride to London about the events of the night before. ‘Bubs’ looks like getting the prize as Player of the Tour for his late night efforts. ‘Fester’ has a shocker again.
All in all it’s been a typical day’s travelling, with a lot of the boys counting the hours until they board the plane home.DAY 31, UXBRIDGE, DECEMBER 19 – Scott Thornton
Rugby League World Cup Tour Diary Michael Fischer 1999
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