Play the Full Rugby Union Season in Australia
If you’re mad about rugby, why not go to rugby mad Oz? With our Play the Season programme you’ll play, train and party all season long with an Aussie rugby club. Plus, you’ll enjoy shared accommodation at the heart of a great city and make friends for life along the way.
Recommended for:
- Living like an Aussie, all season long
- Improving your game in a club environment
- Exploring Oz with your new mates
- Boosting your CV with a part-time job
At a glance:
- Hand-picked Aussie rugby club
- Regular matches, training & social events
- Shared accommodation
- Staff support throughout your stay
Sporting adventures
The Season allows you to spend 6 months living, working and playing rugby in Australia. You’ll have loads of time to make strong friendships and become fully integrated into Aussie life.
You will be located in the amazing city of Melbourne where you’ll be placed with a rugby club that suits your sporting ability and personality! Our centrally located accommodation puts you at the heart of the city, so get ready to enjoy the freedom and excitement of life in Australia with a group of new mates.
We have links with a wide range of fantastic Australian rugby clubs who’ll welcome you as a new member. Get ready for plenty of banter - the Aussies love to have a laugh with their new Pommy team mates!
Club structure
Australian rugby clubs have lots of teams. You can expect:
- 5-7 senior men's teams
- 2-3 women's teams
- 3-4 Colts teams (U20 in Melbourne)
- Active junior sections
Top teams play in the highest state leagues, giving you the chance to play and train alongside Super Rugby players.
Matches and training
You’ll train 2-3 times a week with matches played at the weekends. Most Sport Lived participants play Colts rugby in Australia. The Colts competition is very strong and taken seriously by clubs. Youngsters at Australian international level and Super Rugby academy members usually play First Grade Colts rugby so, if you’re an elite player, you’ll have the chance to compete at a very high level. The senior and Colts sections also have lower level teams, so don’t panic if you’re not planning a career in rugby, our clubs cater for players of all abilities. Additional gym and fitness sessions during the week are optional and your club might also offer a gym pass as a perk of membership.
Off the pitch
With so many members, your club will be a hive of social activity. There’ll be drinks after training and matches plus social events throughout the season - new players’ night, pub crawls and an end-of-season dinner. Some clubs also arrange pre-season tours - a great chance to get to know your teammates whilst exploring a new part of Oz.
Rugby development
Our clubs are selected for their quality coaching and facilities, helping you to return home as a much-improved player. If your performances are noted, you could also find yourself selected for a State representative squad – highly prestigious!
…and finally
What are you waiting for? Get out there and show the Aussies how it’s done!
You’ll have plenty of spare time between training and competing if you’d like to get a job. As well as enhancing your CV and boosting your bank balance, working overseas will help you meet new people and provide more structure to your time away.
Top tips for getting work
Plan the type of work you'd like to obtain
Try to gain relevant work experience
Prepare a CV and have two references
Be proactive & persistent in job hunting
Employment options
Café/bar work: sociable environment
Office work: good rates of pay
Coaching: fulfilling and well paid
Work experience: boost your CV
Working in Australia
You’ll be living close to lots of employment options like offices, shops, bars and restaurants. Contacts at your sport club might also help you to find coaching work.
In addition, your mentor will provide guidance on working in Australia but you should ensure you’re well prepared as the job market can be as competitive as the sports arena!
Career enhancing experiences
Your Sport Lived adventure is the perfect time to get work experience and demonstrate the skills that universities and future employers look for - your Sport Lived work experience will help set you apart.
Independence and initiative
Sport Lived will provide loads of help when you're looking for part-time work but ultimately it's down to you to get out there and make it happen. Showing a prospective employer that you've managed to find, secure and maintain a job in an overseas country is highly impressive.
Teamwork
Teamwork is at the heart of the Sport Lived experience. Living, playing and training alongside a new group of friends is a great way to develop strong social skills and show that you're a real team player.
Personal development
Joining a new sports club, living in an overseas city and securing a job are exciting challenges that will enable you to grow as an individual, leaving you ready to tackle whatever lies ahead after your Sport Lived experience.
Work experience
Living overseas is a great time to think about gaining invaluable work experience in a field you're considering as a career. Sport Lived participants have volunteered in hospitals, law firms and newspaper offices. Such work demonstrates commitment and initiative.
Your home from home
When you travel to Australia with Sport Lived, we arrange quality accommodation for you. Which means you can rest easy knowing you’ll have a comfortable and secure new home from the day you arrive. You’ll share a premium 4-star apartment with other Sport Lived participants, giving you an instant group of friends to share your new adventures with.
Central downtown location
Your apartment is in the centre of Melbourne, with a great selection of restaurants, bars, cafes, shops and entertainment on your doorstep. Melbourne’s excellent public transport system is close by, making for easy travel to your sports club and for exploring the city’s attractions.
About your apartment
You’ll share a twin room with another Sport Lived participant, in either a two or three-bedroomed apartment. All apartments have 24-hour reception and are fully furnished, with a well-equipped kitchen, washing machine, comfortable living area, TV and bed linen. They’re also serviced weekly so you can make the most of your free time in this inspiring city.
- Fully-serviced 4-star apartments (twin rooms)
- Close to transport, shops, cafes and nightlife
- Share with other Sport Lived participants
- Relax – most bills are included
We understand that moving to Australia is a big step – albeit an incredibly exciting one! That’s why we’re here to support you every step of the way, from help and advice as you book your trip, to being there for you from the moment you land in Melbourne and throughout your stay.
In-person support from day one
A member of the Sport Lived team in Melbourne will be in touch before you leave home and welcome you at the airport on your arrival. They’ll help you settle in to your apartment and introduce you to other Sport Lived participants – you’ll soon have new friends to explore this great city with.
Explore with us
During your stay in Melbourne, Sport Lived staff are on hand to help you make the very most of your time. They’ll organise social events, including beach BBQs and dinners out, as well as arrange tickets for major sporting events and day trips to go surfing on the Mornington Peninsular. They’ll give you expert, insider advice on the best things to see and do in the city and further afield too – after all, there’s a whole new continent to explore!
Finding work
Many of our participants choose to find part-time work during their time here, in between their playing or coaching commitments. It’s a great way to meet new people and add new skills to your CV. If you’re interested in finding work, we’ll give you contact details for companies who regularly need casual staff to help you get started with your job search.
Your Sports Club
- Membership of a quality rugby club
- The opportunity to play and train with top Australian players
Accommodation
- Centrally-located accommodation
- Shared twin room in a 4-star apartment
- Free internet
Support from the Sport Lived team
- Airport collection upon arrival
- Local in-person support throughout your stay
- Airport transfer on departure
Employment
- A police check in Australia to help with paid coaching work
Trip Essentials
- Sport Lived clothing
- Information pack upon arrival
- Introductory travel pass
- Gym membership
- Sport Lived Australia handbook
Social Events
- Regular social events from surfing trips to tickets for great sporting events*
- Social events with your club
And finally…
- The sports experience of a lifetime!
*Event options will vary depending on the length and time of your programme.
Questions? We are often asked…
Australian Working Holiday Visa
If you would like to obtain paid work during your programme you will need to obtain an Australian Working Holiday Visa. UK, Dutch, US and Canadian citizens aged 18-30 are eligible for an Australian Working Holiday Visa which enables holders to live and work in Australia for up to 12 months. It costs around AUD635 and can take up to 4 weeks to process so we recommend getting the paperwork sorted well in advance of your departure.
Australian Tourist Visa
If you don’t want to work in Australia you can get an Australian Tourist Visa.
Sport Lived offer programmes for players and athletes of all abilities. Therefore, whether you play at a high standard or not, a Sport Lived programme is perfect for you. A desire to play the sport you love in a spectacular new country is all you will need!
Struggling to find an answer? Contact us and see how we can help.
Our other rugby programme
Play the Mini Season in Australia
Get a taste of Aussie life with our Mini Season rugby programme. Spend part of the season with a local rugby club.
Making the most of your time away
Travelling to the other side of the world to play sport is a truly once in a lifetime experience. So all Sport Lived programmes are designed to make sure that both your sporting life, and your social life, are as action packed and exciting as possible. That’s why you’ll always get…
Social events with Sport Lived
The cities you can visit with Sport Lived are some of the most exciting and welcoming on the planet, and there always seems to be something interesting going on. So to help you make the most of your time away, our local staff organise social events like trips to top sporting occasions, surfing lessons, welcome dinners and loads more besides. They’ll also try to assist you get tickets to events you want to watch while you're away, and give you expert advice on the best things to see and do in the city.
Membership of a local sports club
One of the best things about travelling with Sport Lived is that we arrange for you to join a local sports club. We handpick clubs with lots of members and different teams - some of whom have regular social events. Some clubs may offer preseason tours, and in the past some clubs have organised welcome events for new players. Trust us, you’ll feel like an old hand within a few days and the other members will make sure there’s never a dull moment!
A great place to stay in the centre of town
We offer programmes in some fantastic cities, and we know that to make the most of your time away, you need to be right in the centre of the action. So we make sure that your accommodation is in the heart of the city - just a short walk away from all the best cafes, restaurants, bars, shops and pretty much anything else you’ll ever need.
Like minded flatmates
Having a few friends to share your experiences with is a huge part of any foreign trip – they make the whole experience loads easier and loads more fun. So you’ll always share your swish city centre accommodation with other Sport Lived participants - that way you’ll have a ready-made group of friends from the minute you step off the plane!