USA v Wallabies: Aussie players loving life at University of Notre Dame for Test build-up

A SMALL crowd of Notre Dame rugby players watched the Wallabies train, but it’s the Aussies doing most of the gawking after arriving at the famous university.

THEY can see “Touchdown Jesus” from their hotel rooms, pumped iron in a $70 million ice hockey arena and are getting asked by curious American students if they know “rugby” player Jarryd Hayne.

But while the Wallabies began to get immersed in the full “Fighting Irish” experience at their University of Notre Dame camp, it was more about fighting heat-stroke as the side got down to business on the training paddock.

A sweltering day greeted the Wallabies at South Bend, Indiana, as they began preparations for their Test match against the USA on Sunday in nearby Chicago.

Joe Tomane says training at the University of Notre Dame has been a great experience.

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Training on both grass and synthetic turf rugby pitches on the Notre Dame campus, the Wallabies encountered a temperature of 31 degrees but with sapping humidity of over 80 per cent.

“It was hot and steamy, which is good. Makes sessions tougher and the ball a bit more slippery, good for the skills,” said Wallabies five-eighth Bernard Foley.

A small crowd of Notre Dame rugby players — the code is popular in the US college system — watched the Wallabies train, but it’s the Aussie players have been doing most of the gawking after arriving at the famous university on Sunday.

The team is staying at a hotel on campus that overlooks the 80,000-seat Notre Dame football stadium, which sells out for each of its six home games a year. They can also see the Touchdown Jesus, the nickname given to a large mural on the side of the Hesburg Library, which can be seen from the stadium.

The outstretched arms of Jesus look like a referee awarding a touchdown.

The Wallabies started the day using the weights room and recovery areas of the Compton Family Ice Arena, a massive facility where the Notre Dame ice hockey team play.

It’s been tough going on the training paddock.

“It’s amazing. The Notre Dame campus is huge and the facilities are world class,” winger Joe Tomane said.

“We were lucky enough to train where their ice hockey team use their facilities, which was awesome. I feel very privileged to be in this World Cup squad and being able to use these sort of facilities to help us prepare.”

Foley added: “It’s great to get an insight into the college system, we have been using a lot of world class facilities. There’s 80,000-seat stadium just outside the hotel, so it’s pretty amazing facilities that they have in colleges here.”

The Hayne plane hype has even see players asked if they know the 49ers new rugby player — no. 38 Jarryd Hayne.

“I spoke to a guy at the gym yesterday and he recognised my accent,” said Tomane.

“He asked if I knew Jarryd Hayne personally. It just goes to show how much of an impact he is having over here and we are so proud of how he’s doing.”

Notre Dame’s football team have a massive home game against Texas on the weekend but it is at the same time the Wallabies are playing the Eagles at NFL venue Soldier Field.

Australia will move to Chicago on Wednesday to continue their preparations in the windy city, before returning to Notre Dame next week for another camp.

Originally published as USA v Wallabies: Aussie players loving life at University of Notre Dame for Test build-up