Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui remembers 2003 NT training fondly and hopes the 2027 World cup bid will have the same lasting impact

Ahead of the 2003 Rugby World Cup the Wallabies trained and camped in the Top End, an experience former Wallaby Morgan Turinui regards as one of the key experiences in their campaign.

Former Wallabies Morgan Turinui and Stephen Larkham in Darwin ahead of the 2003 World Cup. Photo: Wallabies Media Unit

AHEAD of the 2003 Rugby World Cup the Wallabies trained and camped in the Top End, an experience former Wallaby Morgan Turinui regards as one of the key experiences in their campaign.

And now with Australia bidding for the 2027 edition of the event, Turinui expects it to once more come as a massive boon for the whole country.

The Wallabies were defending champions in 2003, having won in 1999, and the hosts made a real point to unite the whole country behind them.

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But it was an intense training camp in the humidity followed by a trip to Arnhem Land that remains a lasting memory for that Wallabies contingent, including the general manager of the Classic Wallabies, Turinui.

“When we all get together that one camp in the NT is the one experience that we all always talk about. It was amazing,” Turinui said.

“We were the defending champions at the time so there was a real sense of it being our cup on our land and we wanted to get the whole of Australia involved. The NT was perhaps the hardest training we ever did, considering the heat.

“And then we went to Arnhem Land fishing, camping and spending time as a group. It was one of the most special moments for us, the perfect way to prepare for the cup.

“I would encourage any team to go up there and have the same experience. Though we were champions we were still the underdogs. And we probably over-performed in the end beating New Zealand and coming that close to an amazing England side in the final.”

Rugby Australia has been working on the bid for the past 18 months, gaining a commitment of funding from the federal government to put forward its bid. The bid has already gained plenty of support, and any fans looking to get on board can at Australia2027.rugby.

But it is the legacy of the World Cup that will perhaps be most important, with the positive impact likely to be felt across the country from the grassroots up.

“The whole country got behind us and we know that Australians will get behind the event once again and back the bid,” Turinui said.

“People have really come out of the woodwork to show their support. As happened in 2003, Australians get behind their teams and we showed then that we can host a big sporting event.

“We all thought that 2003 would be the last chance but it’s only like 2027 will be the biggest chance of all to get give the sport the kick it needs.

“And then it’s about the legacy, what happens after. The World Cup is as big as it gets and if juniors get the chance to see that then they will be inspired to take up the sport.

“It will be huge for sport in the NT too. There’s a really thirst to grow the game there and with a World Cup there will be visiting teams from all over.”