Wallabies in the city

I was invited to The Establishment yesterday arvo by Hahn, Lion and the Wallabies and I thought, why not?

The Establishment is a bop and a skip from my office. It’s massive, Merivale-owned bar on George Street in Sydney, housed in a heritage 19th-century building and famous for its 42-metre marble bar.

As for the reason for the event … after a 10-year hiatus, Hahn is back as the Official Beer of the Wallabies and Lion was raising a can to the new partnership.

I was allowed to bring a plus one, so I took along my sport-loving colleague May. Neither of us drink beer, but we figured it would beat eating a sandwich at our desks during our lunch break.

We were chatting to someone from Rugby Australia when a good-looking rooster strode up and said hi.

He was wearing a suit with a waratah badge on it. Whenever I see a waratah I immediately think of the NSW Government. So I squealed “you’re wearing a waratah badge!” thinking he was one of my tribe.

“That would be because I’m a Waratah,” he replied.

I stared at him blankly for a split second, as my brain processed what a Waratah was, then sent a message to my foot telling to get out of my mouth.

The Waratahs are my state’s rugby union team. But that’s about the extent of my knowledge of them.

I rerranged my face to try and look like I knew exactly who he was and brightly asked if he’d tried a party pie yet.

I still have no idea who he was.

He might have said his name was Hugh. He doesn’t appear to be a current Waratah. Is he a former player? Anyone got any idea? He’s the bald bloke behind the beer …

There were some footy greats in attendance, but I can’t remember their names. Plus, the editor of the Betoota Advocate, Clancy Overell, was there. I gave him a big cheer when he went up on stage. Love the Betoota Advocate!

There were also some people who won a competition, I think, to be members of a supporters team. It was a bit unclear.

They were given t-shirts with their names on them and beers up on stage, then they posed for photos with Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh and were showered in confetti.

It was a bit random, but spirits were high.

May and I hoovered down some yummy canapes, including tandoori chicken skewers, arancini balls and party pies before hoofing it back to the office.

Not a bad lunch break, could have done with another party pie and some more sporting knowledge.

Song of the day: Adele “I drink wine”