He may have befriended two of Queensland rugby league’s best, but Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs has thrown his support behind NSW for Wednesday night’s State of Origin series decider.
The 13-time English Premier League champion, in Sydney for Saturday’s pre-season tour match against the A-League All Stars, says he is a big rugby league fan and will be among the 80,000-strong crowd watching the match at ANZ Stadium.
Among those vying for Origin honours for the eighth straight time will be Maroons captain Cameron Smith and fullback Billy Slater – two players Giggs met when their NRL club Melbourne travelled to Leeds for the World Club Championship earlier this year.
But his fondness for the Storm stars won’t be extended to Queensland come Wednesday.
“I’ve also got a text off (NSW great) Andrew Johns, telling me in no uncertain terms who to support on Wednesday,” Giggs said.
“I’m in Sydney so I’ll be supporting NSW to win.”
Giggs’ teammate Wayne Rooney was also expected to be among the spectators on Wednesday but was flown back to Manchester with a hamstring injury soon after landing in Bangkok for the Red Devils’ opening tour match against the Thai All Stars.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Which Bond,there have been about 5 of them ?.
Keeping it real
Guest
And to think rugby only had James Bond!!
nopuritan
Guest
Andrew always has the good mail !
Matt_S
Guest
Yeah, it's not unusual for league players/Football players to watch/appreciate each others sports, as well as fans. Lots of league communities like St Helens, Warrington, Widnes, Salford etc are near or part of big conurbations of Liverpool (Everton), Manchester etc so there is a lot of cross flow between codes.
Bondy
Guest
Apparently Giggsy was a ballboy for the touring Kangaroo's about 25 years ago, he's now 38. Matt S apparently Rooney likes and watches League also.
Zaccaaa
Guest
Lol stfu about the blues You's sound like a broken record, Qld will be laughing at this
Matt_S
Guest
Ryan Giggs dad played high level rugby league and represented Wales, hence he has been a league fan longer than a meeting with a few Aussie players. Rio Ferdinand is also a big league fans and is a season ticket holder at Wigan RL I believe. Other players also follow Super league so it is not an unusual article to wrote about. http://www.welshicons.org.uk/html/ryan_giggs.php "He was born in Wales to father Danny Wilson, a noted Rugby League player, and mother Lynne Giggs, but was brought up in Salford England and speaks with an Mancunian accent."
Raugeee
Guest
Could Giggs kick it into the ingoal so NSW can get a repeat set?
Renegade
Guest
He and Rooney are massive RL fans so they've got interest in this game.
eagleJack
Guest
Ryan Giggs is in Sydney with Man U. He will be attending the game on Wed night. Is it such a stretch that he would be asked who he is supporting rob??
robdowney
Roar Rookie
Ahmed of Timbuktu is also going for NSW. Apparently Barack Obama is supporting Queensland. seriously, where do you get the ideas for these articles from?