The Aqua Rugby Festival, Australia’s first-ever floating rugby tournament, is back and making a splash in Manly Cove this November. The second season of the three-day rugby tournament on the water will take place from Thursday 10 to Saturday 12 November, on a 30 x 30-metre pontoon floating in Manly Cove between Manly Wharf and the Manly Pavilion.
A quirky version of Rugby where players have to dive off the floating pitch into the water to score a try and can be crash-tackled off the side. Sydneysiders can expect big hits and big splashes from this unique match, featuring marquee signings, including All Black great Ma’a Nonu, Wallaby legend Drew Mitchell, Wallaroo superstars Sera Naiqama & Sharni Williams, Dave Dennis, James Graham plus many more! Aqua Rugby is back for the second time ever in Sydney, after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic and NSW weather.
The action on the floating pontoon is set to go up another level with a mix of former and current rugby greats as well as up-and-coming rugby talent playing in both the Men’s and Women’s formats. Over 350 local players from around Australia will also descend upon Manly to compete for the Aqua Rugby trophy.
All players are selected by world-class famous coaches and managers, with many more players and coaches to be announced in the lead-up to the tournament. Aqua Rugby is a game for all, and the tournament includes teams that celebrate culture and diversity, including the Sydney Convicts (LGBTQIA+ team), Lloyd McDermott Indigenous team, Army and Navy sides and 12 women’s teams – and many more invitational teams who make this sport accessible for all.
Whether you’re watching for free from the beach and promenade, or from one of the superyachts in the cove, this is sure to be an unmissable event. With great food, music, big screens, activations and play zones for kids, as well as meet and greets with NSW Waratahs players, taking place along the shoreline.
Aqua Rugby is offering premium hospitality packages that include a ticket to one of the five yachts lining the floating pitch, including food and drinks, live music and a brilliant view of the action. The yacht line-up includes Sydney’s finest – Ghost II, Corroboree, Shadow, AQA and Oscar II. Tickets start from $95.
Red Bull Air Race champion Matt Hall will also be performing an incredible aero-show each day over the event in Manly for all to enjoy.
The concept of Aqua Rugby came about six years ago when Wallaby Bernard Foley, Aqua Rugby CEO Jimmy Galvin, and Jeremy Gooden started chatting at their local pub.
“We wanted to showcase rugby in a brand new, modern format – and to bring a new tourism-driven event to the stunning shores of Manly, NSW,” said Aqua Rugby CEO and cofounder Jimmy Galvin.
“Aqua Rugby is like the Hong Kong Sevens meets the Monaco Grand Prix where a diverse mix of professional and amateur teams play amongst a vibrant festival atmosphere that makes it fun for the whole family.”
Aqua Rugby has partnered with EnPerso Travel to build a range of travel packages, offering anyone outside of Sydney the ultimate Aqua Rugby experience, including accommodation, flights, yacht hospitality tickets, plus additional experiences all over Sydney. You will also have the chance to enter and win an ultimate experience.
As well as the action on the water, there will be an official after-party each night held at 4 Pines Manly Brew pub.
For tickets and more information, visit aquarugy.com.
