Aussie fans willing to do some crazy things to get to Rugby World Cup

NOTHING says commitment like a giant green and gold tattoo right in the middle of your noggin. It turns out Wallabies fans are surprisingly crazy.

Sport - Aust Wallabies VS England at Suncorp Stadium Rugby Union - Matt Williams ejoys a beer. picSteve/Pohlner Jun 2004 headshot face head paint sport action fans supporters

WITH the Rugby World Cup just around the corner, thousands of fans across Australia will soon be setting their alarms for a middle-of-the-night wake up in order to catch as much action of rugby’s biggest event as possible.

Unfortunately, many rugby supporters will miss out on the privilege of attending games over in the UK, having been unsuccessful in the worldwide ticket ballot that has been running since mid-2014.

Amid the desperation to reserve a seat, a number of Australian fans have said they would be willing to go to some pretty drastic measures if it meant landing them a pass to the event.

In a survey conducted by 1Cover Travel Insurance, over 1000 Aussies showed just how much attending the World Cup really meant to them.

Probably the most shocking admission of the group, 1.5 per cent of people said they would be willing to tattoo the name of their team on their forehead.

This means that theoretically, if all 23 million people in Australia were avid rugby fans, that would leave us with 345,000 people running around with a golden Wallaby permanently inked on their face. Even if they get just one person to do it, that is dedication at its best.

Wallaby fans are well known for making bold public statements to show their support for the gold jersey.

Most popular in the survey was the choice to give up social media for the entirety of the competition, which saw 20 per cent of Aussies willing to switch off their phones and log out of Twitter and the like in a complete online social blackout.

As many as 12 per cent of people said they would don the red rose of England and barrack for the Poms at every match, while seven per cent said they would be willing to stomach a plate of London’s finest jellied eels and mash.

Running in at a close equal-fourth choice, five per cent said they would go for a dive off Tower Bridge or alternatively give the Queen a wave as they streaked past Buckingham Palace.

Last but certainly not least, 4 per cent of the most diehard of fans were willing to give up the warmth of their beds and brave the cold English streets with swag and sleeping bag in hand.

In addition, research also showed that close to a quarter of Aussies would be willing to drop everything to book a trip to see the Wallabies play.

Unfortunately, with the ballot closed and the Cup all but sold out, these dedicated fans may just have to make do watching on televison from the comfort of their own homes.

Originally published as Aussie fans willing to do some crazy things to get to Rugby World Cup