Rugby Union: Experience in Australia

Introductory drinks in the city

During the first week of your programme, we’ll arrange introductory drinks in the city for you and your fellow Sport Lived participants. Your mentor will co-ordinate arrangements and show you around local bars and nightspots to get your programme off to a flying start.

Gym membership

Throughout your stay in Brisbane you’ll have membership to a gym close to your accommodation. You’ll be able to stay in perfect shape, working out with your Sport Lived mates.

Day-long bike ride

Brisbane is a very bike-friendly city with loads of cycle tracks and suburbs to explore on two wheels. We’ll take you on a cycling tour of the city and surrounding regions stopping for lunch and refreshment breaks. A brilliant way to get to know the city and spend time with your fellow participants.

Tangalooma snorkelling day trip

You’ll spend a day exploring the underwater wonders of the Tangalooma shipwrecks, close to Moreton Island just off the Queensland coast. The experience of swimming amongst the wrecks with tropical fish literally within your grasp is exhilarating. You might even spot one of the dolphins or green turtles living in the area.

Traditional Aussie BBQ

Only in Australia would you find the words ‘barbeque’ and ‘culture’ in the same phrase, but the barbecue is an intrinsic part of Australian culture. You’ll get a first-hand taste of the quintessential Aussie experience.

We’ll organise the genuine article complete with ice cold local beer, some old school Aussie tunes and even a game of backyard cricket!

Kayaking on the Brisbane River

You’ll paddle along the meandering Brisbane river with a guided adventure tour observing the city from a unique angle. Watch Brisbane’s most prominent landmarks glide while you keep cool in the river breeze.

Tickets to a sporting match

Another taste of Aussie life is watching live sport. There are some unforgettable sporting spectacles during July and August and we’ll pick up tickets for a great event.

Maybe it’ll be a National Rugby League game at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium or an Aussie Rules match watching the Brisbane Lions in action at the famous Gabba.

Trip to the Gold Coast plus surfing lesson

The Gold Coast has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world as well as famous surf breaks. Just an hour from Brisbane, you’ll spend the day exploring the beaches, shops and attractions of Australia’s premier holiday destination.

You’ll also receive a surfing lesson from a qualified instructor with the aim of getting you up and riding!

1. What type of visa do I need and what are the restrictions?

You have two choices for the 8 week experience. If you’re a UK citizen, a standard ETA Tourist Visa is appropriate if you’re not planning to work whilst in Australia. This costs around £18 and is available either short-term (3 months) or long-term (12 months). You must obtain the Visa prior to departure and your travel agent or airline can usually help arrange an ETA Visa.

If you’d like to work whilst in Australia, UK citizens aged 18-30 are normally eligible for an Australian Working Holiday Visa which enables holders to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months. It costs around £150 and can take up to 4 weeks to process, so we recommend getting the paperwork sorted well in advance of your departure. 

For more information see the Travel & Visa section in the Need to Know area of our site.

2. What’s included in the price of my programme and how much spending money will I require?

The cost of the Sport Lived experience programme includes the following:

• 4-star accommodation including most household bills (telephone and internet charges are NOT covered)
• the cost of activities outlined in the Activities section
• membership of your rugby club
• airport pick-up at the start of your programme
• mentor support throughout your stay
• a handbook with useful information

The programme cost does NOT include the following:

• flights, insurance, visas, return airport transfer, local transport or food

Your main costs whilst overseas will be transport, match/competition fees plus food and beer money. A cost of living guide for each Sport Lived destination is provided in the Need to Know section. This should help you plan and budget for your time away.

3. Do I need to be an elite athlete?

Absolutely not! We cater for players of all abilities. We will obtain further information on your sporting ability once you have submitted your booking form.  This will allow us to match you with a suitable club.  If you are an elite player, we'll ensure you join a top-class club who know you are serious about sport!

4. When will I find out full details of my programme e.g. What club I will join and where I will live?

Once you have sent in a booking form, we’ll start working behind the scenes to put everything in place for the perfect programme. 3-4 weeks later you’ll receive a confirmation document outlining details of your club, key dates and an overview of your specific programme details.

Final payment for all programmes is due 12 weeks before departure which allows us to finalise accommodation arrangements and send you details of your flatmates and your new address in Oz!

The pre-departure briefing takes place around 8 weeks before you join us and provides a chance for you and your parents to meet up with the Sport Lived team and fellow participants, and ask any remaining questions you may have

5. How can I find out more general information?

Hopefully, most key pieces of information are available on the website where you can download programme notes, prices and dates. Our Need to Know section also contains lots of useful information. If you have other questions or just want to have a chat, we’re always available either on the phone or via email.

We know that planning a trip overseas can be scary at times and there’s loads to think about. So don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need to discuss anything at all.

Home from home...

Apartments are shared with other Sport Lived participants and include a 24-hour reception plus many mod-cons. Apartments are fully furnished including a TV, linen, kitchen appliances, washing machines, etc. They are also serviced weekly so you can spend your time having fun.

NB: Illustrative accommodation pictures.

Club structure

Australian rugby clubs have lots of teams. You can expect:

• 5-7 senior men’s teams
• 2-3 women’s teams
• 3-4 Colts teams (U21 in Sydney; U19 in Brisbane)

In addition, there are active junior sections.

Top teams play in the highest state leagues, giving you the chance to play and train alongside Super 14 and international players.

Matches and training

You’ll train 2-3 times a week with matches played at the weekends.

Most Sport Lived participants play Colts rugby in Australia. The Colts competition is very strong and taken seriously by clubs. Youngsters at Australian international level and Super 14 academy members all play First Grade Colts rugby so, if you’re an elite player, you’ll have the chance to compete at a very high level.

The senior and Colts sections also have lower level teams, so don’t panic if you’re not planning a career in rugby, our clubs cater for players of all abilities.

Additional gym and fitness sessions during the week are optional and your club might also offer a gym pass as a perk of membership.

Off the pitch

With so many members, your club will be a hive of social activity. There’ll be drinks after training and matches plus social events throughout the season - new players’ night, pub crawls and an end-of-season dinner. Some clubs also arrange pre-season tours - a great chance to get to know your teammates whilst exploring a new part of Oz.

Rugby development

Our clubs are selected for their high quality coaching and facilities, helping you to return home as a much-improved player. If your performances are noted, you could also find yourself selected for a State representative squad – highly prestigious!

…and finally

What are you waiting for? Get out there and show the Aussies how it’s done!