Uni-Norths Owls morph into Galloping Greens
Very few ride the highs and lows of Uni-Norths like Michael Axelsen. Then again, very few have their family name woven into the history a club like the Owls president.
Axelsen will be joined by past players from as far as London to watch the Owls take on Easts in the John I Dent Cup heritage round at ANU North Oval on Saturday.
The Owls are a product of the University and Norths amalgamation, and the club will celebrate the 80th year of the competition by wearing a Norths heritage jumper - they had planned to wear it for one half and a University one for the other, but the latter has not arrived in time.
It means they will be decked out in Galloping Greens jumpers to face Easts - one of the four foundation clubs alongside University, Norths and RMC when the competition began in 1938.
The Owls could don a University heritage jersey when that arrives next week, but for now Axelsen will bask in the return of the green jersey and the 70 years of memories that come with it.
"My father [Allan Axelsen] started playing rugby for Norths in 1948, and I started playing juniors in 1959 and played through until 1991. My children have both played for the club as well," Axelsen said.
"To add to that interest, my mother’s father was the first secretary of Easts in 1938, so there’s a family connection going a long way back there. The second grade trophy is called the Spence Cup, and that is named after my grandfather.
"It goes back 80 years. My mum is now 89 so she has seen it all happen around the town. She had three sisters - one of them married an Easts guy, one of them married a Royals bloke and the other one moved to Sydney.
"The relationships are very firmly entrenched in the Canberra rugby scene."
Norths lay claim to a pair of former Wallabies in Owen Butler and Brad Girvan, while Laurie Fisher led ANU to their lone premiership in 1992.
In recent years Ben Alexander has been the biggest name on the books, having arrived in Canberra as a university student before becoming the highest-capped Brumby and a veteran of 72 Tests.
But Axelsen says "the most important player" the club has ever had is a humble Canberra rugby legend named Peter Bradley, better known as "Branches" in Owls circles.
The three-time MacDougall medallist played over 400 senior games for ANU and his contribution to the club ultimately saw the No. 5 retired. Instead they use the Roman numeral 'V'.
"Every year we get new people asking ‘why is he playing in that number? Why isn’t there a number five?’," Axelsen said.
"Branches is invariably down on the sideline, still wandering out, helping out and running water. He is a huge contributor to the club, a vital cog in the whole of the club as we move forward.
"He is always coming up with ideas and he has got lots to say. He likes to keep a low profile though, he doesn’t like to be out showing off but he is certainly the most important player we have ever had."
There is a fair chance all could feature when the Owls name the best individual team for Norths, University and the Owls as well as a combined team of the best talent to celebrate the milestone year.
JOHN I DENT CUP ROUND 14
Saturday: Gungahlin Eagles v Queanbeyan Whites at Nicholls Enclosed Oval, Royals v Tuggeranong Vikings at Phillip Enclosed Oval, Uni-Norths Owls v Easts at ANU North Oval. All games at 3.05pm.