A total of 28,132 people turned up to watch the FIJI Water Flying Fijians take on the Australian Wallabies at the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia yesterday.
The vast expanse of the stadium became a sea of yellow T-shirts and waving Fiji flags as support for both teams strengthened with their appearance in the 80-minute thriller.
Most of the fans and supporters who came out to support Fiji were from Newcastle and other parts of New South Wales.
Others came over from Fiji in the past few days and some were visiting family and friends in Australia and thought of grabbing the opportunity to watch the Flying Fijians up close in Newcastle.
After the match where the Wallabies beat Fiji 18-21, fans and supporters in the stadium were allowed the chance to meet the players in a program set up by organisers known as “Take to the Turf.”
What followed after was a large procession of those seated around the stadium, jumping over LED advertisement strips and barricades to run onto the field to meet both teams.
Players from both teams were happy to meet fans and supporters, and the eager crowd reciprocated in their reception of the teams.
During the match, the Flying Fijians were roused further onward to the try-line with the proclamation of loud cheers such as “Go Fiji go” and “toso Viti toso”.
The 28,132 fans filled up the vast interior of the stadium, which has a maximum seating capacity of 33,000 people.
