The Anzac Day long weekend in Canberra will be filled with sports clashes across the AFL, NRL and Super Rugby.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
In the AFL, the Greater Western Sydney Giants will host the Western Bulldogs at Manuka Oval on Saturday 26 April.
The Brumbies will take on New Zealandโs Hurricanes on the same day, while the Canberra Raiders go up against the Dolphins the following day.
The game day activities at the AFL include a curtain raiser match between the Australian Defence Force and NSW Police womenโs team.
RSL ACT will be at the ground to collect donations.
There will also be a pre-match observance ceremony.
The Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies will combine for this round, allowing fans to attend both matches scheduled at GIO Stadium for the price of just one ticket.
The Raiders have released their Anzac Day guernsey, which pays homage to the brave servicemen who served on the Kokoda campaign during the Second World War.
The Raiders partnered with the Australian War Memorial (AWM) to source imagery for the jersey.
The main image on the front is of an anonymous soldier looking out across the deep valleys towards Ioribaiwa on the Kokoda Trail, from a point where the road ends and the descent by foot track commences.
The image of the anonymous soldier was taken by Warrant Officer (later Lieutenant) Thomas (Tom) Fisher in 1942, who was the only military history section photographer to be killed in action during World War II.
The jersey also features an early map of the Kokoda Trail from the AWM National Collections.
A Raiders club spokeswoman told CD the playing squad would return to the AWM on Anzac Day for the Last Post ceremony.
She said on game day, the AWM would set information marquees at GIO Stadium.
The Raiders club spokeswoman said in the lead up to Anzac Day the club would announce some fundraising initiatives to go towards the AWM Anzac Foundation.
โThe Raiders are very connected to the ANZAC Round with their close proximity to the AWM and Canberra being so synonymous with defence,โ the Raiders spokeswoman said.
โThe club is proud to honour Australia’s past and present defence force personnel and are extremely grateful for their service.โ
The Anzac spirit will also be on display for the ACT Brumbies, with a spokesman saying the day is important to the club.
โAs a Canberra-based club, Anzac Day has always provided a strong resonance and meaning to the ACT Brumbies with a long-standing connection between the club and the sport of rugby union, the Defence Forces and the ADF Academy/Duntroon and the AWM,โ the spokesman said.
The Brumbies game day will include several military-themed activities, including a Red Berets Parachute Jump into the stadium, army drone show and virtual reality experience, an army-style obstacle course for children, fitness challenges, a half-time military dog presentation and an Air Force Roulettes flyover.
A traditional Anzac Day ceremony will also be held, featuring renditions of the national anthems and the playing of the Last Post before kick-off.
The club will also host the ADF rugby finals between the Army and Air Force Menโs and Womenโs sides as curtain raisers.
The club spokesman said the main feature on this yearโs Anzac Day jersey is HMAS Canberra (III) and two of its landing craft.
He said the jersey also featured rosemary, an ancient symbol of fidelity and remembrance, with the Brumbies logo.
On the lower back of the jersey are the three colours of poppies: red, white and purple.
โAustralians traditionally wear sprigs of rosemary as a symbol of remembrance on ANZAC Day or Remembrance Day,โ the spokesman said.
On the sleeve it has the ADF colours, dark blue for the Navy, red for the Army, and light blue for the Air Force.
In the lead up, the club will introduce the Captain Shout Cup to be played for between the Brumbies and the Hurricanes to honour New Zealander Captain Alfred John Shout, VC, MC of the 1st Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, who died in Gallipoli. Players will also learn more about Captain Shout and take part in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Australian War Memorial.
Tickets for the matches are available at:
AFL โ Giants vs Bulldogs, Saturday 26 April, 7:35pm: premier.ticketek.com.au/Shows/Show.aspx?sh=MANUKAOVAL
Super Rugby โ Brumbies vs Hurricanes, Saturday 26 April, 7:35pm: premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=KRUHURR25
NRL โ Raiders vs Dolphins, Sunday 27 April, 2pm: premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=RAI0825
Two for one deal tickets (NRL/Super Rugby): premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=EBRU0000025RB
