“People think this is just for fun until the first ball is bowled,” Fleming said in a statement.
“Once these athletes cross the boundary line, they want to win. I’ve seen it first-hand in New Zealand, and I know just how fiercely competitive these footy players become.
New Zealand sporting icons Richie McCaw and Stephen Fleming catch up after the Black Clash in 2021. Photo / Photosport
“Team Rugby has beaten Team Cricket twice in the Black Clash, and there’s absolutely no reason Team Footy can’t do the same in Australia.
“Australians are fiercely passionate about cricket, rugby league and AFL. Bringing those sporting worlds together creates something completely unique, and I think Australian fans are going to love it.”
Behind the banter and the big names is a successful commercial model that Duco and Fleming now hope to replicate across the Tasman.
Duco announced today that top Australian cricket names Usman Khawaja, Matthew Hayden and Michael Hussey would play in the match for Team Cricket, along with a sporting “wildcard”, Australian tennis star and three-time major champion Ash Barty.
They would compete against ‘Team Footy’ featuring former NRL stars Sam Burgess and Johnathan Thurston and former AFL stars Dale Thomas and Joel Selwood.
Fleming will coach the Team Footy side.
This year’s Black Clash event at Mount Maunganui drew an audience of 928,300 on TVNZ. It featured Jesse Ryder, Lou Vincent, Grant Elliott and Kyle Mills for Team Cricket and Kieran Read, Jordie Barrett, Ofisa Tonu’u and Hussey for Team Rugby. Team Cricket won by five runs.
Duco Events said it had worked with the Queensland Government via Tourism and Events Queensland, Cairns Regional Council and Tourism Tropical North Queensland for the event.
“By securing events that attract visitors from across Australia and overseas, we’re creating opportunities for tourism operators, supporting jobs and ensuring the benefits of a growing visitor economy are felt right across the State,” Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said in a statement.
Duco Events owner David Higgins. Photo / Photosport
Duco owner and founder David Higgins said he was excited about the extension of the event.
“We are sure Australian fans will love the novelty of watching superstars from cricket, NRL and AFL competing head-on in this sporting extravaganza.
“Whilst Gold Clash is a commercial event, we have also opted to appoint three not-for-profit organisations who will each receive a funding donation from us each year. The selected organisations will be announced in the coming weeks.”
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.