Wally (Wallabies mascot)
Wally is an anthropomorphic wallaby that serves as the official mascot of the Australia national rugby union team, the Wallabies.
A stuffed toy version of the mascot is carried with the Wallabies on overseas tours to Europe, similar to the British & Irish Lions' mascot "Bil". It is the duty of the youngest member of the touring party to protect the mascot from pranks by older players to hide and sabotage it. It is considered an embarrassment to the protector if Wally is not safely guarded. The protector is forced to hold Wally at all times. It becomes a source of entertainment for senior players when the team is out socialising.
Events
[edit]In May 2007, a Welsh rugby fan was ejected from a stadium in Sydney during a match for attempting to dance with the life-size version of Wally.[1]
When Berrick Barnes was forced to protect Wally during the 2007 World Cup in France he had to stitch it up several times and perform a search of every member's hotel room to retrieve it, despite the help of Lote Tuqiri.[2]
During the 2008 tour it became a long-running joke among the players that the mascot could be used by 18-year-old James O'Connor to break the ice with young ladies.[3]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ Fan, 72, ejected for mascot dance BBC News
- ^ Lote cures Berrick's insomnia Greg Growden and Rupert Guinness | September 11, 2007
- ^ Tour rookie gets Wally FOX Sports - October 27, 2008