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May 19, 2008
Alternative Rugby Commentary is back for 2008
The Alternative Rugby Commentary is back, on the ball and full of all the clichés, calls and controversy you won't hear
in your average rugby commentary.
Alternative Rugby today announced its schedule for the 2008 season, featuring balls by balls commentary with bite,
headed by Jed Thian.
Kicking off with the final of the Rugby Super 14 competition, Alternative Rugby presents 16 game calls live from
Wellington's Loaded Hog for the New Zealand domestic test season and from around the world. Ten games will be called
from the Loaded Hog, with the remaining six called 'on the road' from Hong Kong and London. Please check the attached
information for the full schedule.
The Alternative Rugby Commentary is a fresh, frank and funny look at footy. The Alternative Rugby Commentary merciless
in its mirth over whatever suckers happen to be playing New Zealand; a no-holds-barred appraisal of the local teams and
players – what we really want to know, like who ate all the pies and what a monumental cock-up the All Blacks 'strength
and conditioning' regime was.
Through the wonders of modern technology the Alternative Rugby Commentary is simulcast on the world wide web at www.arcrugby.co.nz, available for real sports fans all over the world who want sports commentary with real balls.
Jed 'Jedi' Thian is the almighty mouth from the south with more bounce to the ounce when it comes to cutting edge rugby
commentary.
With growing fame all over the world as the driving force behind Alternative Rugby Commentary, Thian has been in the hot
seat since 2005, bringing his unique brand of bombastic bluster and acerbic verbal jousting to the staid world of sport
commentary. Australia has Roy & HG to skewer its sports stars; Aotearoa turns to the almighty Jedi to cut through the publicity pap and deliver a truly
Kiwi take on the big games.
This is what no-less an authority on world affairs as the BBC had to say about Thian when he blew through the United
Kingdom commentating from London's The Clapham Grande at the Rugby World Cup 2007:
"He is the kind-of New Zealand Roy & HG, an absolute cultural icon. Apparently over there… in New Zealand they turn the TV commentary down and go to Jed's
website www.arcrugby.co.nz and they listen to him basically abusing everybody right, left and centre."
John Inverdale, September 8th 2007, BBC 5 Live Rugby World Cup Special
The 2008 Alternative Rugby Commentary: All the balls you need.
www.arcrugby.co.nz
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The Alternative Rugby Commentary
Commentary Schedule
(all times New Zealand local)
Rugby Super 14 Final
May 31, time, teams and venue TBC
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
Iveco Series – New Zealand vs Ireland
June 7, 7.35pm: Wellington
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
Iveco Series – New Zealand vs England
June 14, 7.35pm: Auckland
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
Iveco Series – New Zealand vs England
June 21, 7.35pm: Christchurch
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
2008 Philips Tri Nations – New Zealand vs South Africa
July 5, 7.35pm: Wellington
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
2008 Philips Tri Nations – New Zealand vs South Africa
July 12, 7.35pm: Dunedin
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
2008 Philips Tri Nations – New Zealand vs Australia
July 26, 10.05pm: Sydney
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
2008 Philips Tri Nations – New Zealand vs Australia
August 2, 7.35pm: Auckland
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
2008 Philips Tri Nations – New Zealand vs South Africa
August 17, 1am: Cape Town
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
2008 Philips Tri Nations – New Zealand vs South Africa
September 13, 10.05pm: Brisbane
ARC: The Loaded Hog, Wellington Waterfront
New Zealand vs Australia
November 1, time TBC: Hong Kong
New Zealand vs Scotland
November 8, time TBC: Edinburgh
New Zealand vs Ireland
November 15, time TBC: Dublin
New Zealand vs Munster
November 18, time TBC: Limerick
New Zealand vs Wales
November 22, time TBC: Cardiff
New Zealand vs England
November 29, time TBC: London
ENDS
About the Alternative Rugby Commentary
The Alternative Rugby Commentary
Alternative rugby commentary has a storied history in New Zealand as pundits have sought to provide a more interesting
and alternative take on the nation's pastime. Radio Sport's Graeme Hill would simulcast rugby test matches on Auckland's 95bFM prior to starring on the now-defunct Sports Café, while Wellington ears were treated to the dulcet tones of a young John Campbell, better known back then as Sparky
Plug, broadcasting on Radio Active 89FM.
But that was radio, and way back then. The Alternative Rugby Commentary goes further than those footnotes in New
Zealand's broadcasting history, with announcer Jed Thian teaming up with a rotisserie of guest co-hosts commentating the
big matches in bars in New Zealand and around the world.
Through the wonders of modern technology the Alternative Rugby Commentary is simulcast on the world wide web at
www.arcrugby.co.nz, available for real sports fans all over the world who want sports commentary with real balls.
And what do they get? A commentary that is merciless in its mirth over whatever suckers happen to be playing New
Zealand; a no-holds-barred appraisal of the local teams and players – what we really want to know, like who ate all the
pies and what a monumental cock-up the All Blacks 'strength and conditioning' regime was.
The Alternative Rugby Commentary is a fresh, frank and farkin' funny look at footy.
Jed Thian Jed 'Jedi' Thian is the almighty mouth from the south with more bounce to the ounce when it comes to cutting edge rugby
commentary.
With growing fame all over the world as the driving force behind Alternative Rugby Commentary, Thian has been in the hot
seat since 2005, bringing his unique brand of bombastic bluster and acerbic verbal jousting to the staid world of sport
commentary. Australia has Roy & HG to skewer its sports stars; Aotearoa turns to the almighty Jedi to cut through the publicity pap and deliver a truly
Kiwi take on the big games.
This is what no-less an authority on world affairs as the BBC had to say about Thian when he blew through the United
Kingdom commentating from London's The Clapham Grande at the Rugby World Cup 2007:
"He is the kind-of New Zealand Roy & HG, an absolute cultural icon. Apparently over there… in New Zealand they turn the TV commentary down and go to Jed's
website www.arcrugby.co.nz and they listen to him basically abusing everybody right, left and centre." John Inverdale, September 8th 2007, BBC 5 Live Rugby World Cup Special
A peek into Thian's past reveals a character that is much, much more than your average salivating rugby fan boofhead.
Born in 1972, the son of the Deep South grew up in the Otago highlands and had a robust and typically-Kiwi upbringing. A
talent for rugby combined with an appreciable bulk saw the young Thian make it to the roster of Otago's Super 10 (yep,
that's right, 10 – 'twas a few years back) team in 1994. He left to play Rugby League in Brisbane – naturally.
However, the young Thian was always more mouth than movement and rugby's loss was broadcasting's gain. Early forays into
radio through Dunedin's Radio Otago and Radio 1 parlayed into regular appearances on The Radio Network stations where his inability to toe the bland company line was duly noted, but he was on target with the audience as
the host of ‘Sport on One’ and a co-host on the original Campus Otago Weekly – COW TV. But what do you do in Dunedin,
when you’ve successfully asked 400 University of Otago students for ‘nudity’? Naturally you leave. A move north saw
Thian using his commercial radio skills in the Wellington community radio station Firm FM and then producing and co-hosting Radio Active 89FM's breakfast show. And from this creative well sprung the resurrection of alternative rugby commentary at Wellington's San Francisco Bathhouse.
OTHER INTERNET AND BROADCASTING SPOTS.
Now he's everywhere, which is no mean feat considering the glorious bulk of the man. Last year, Thian's alternative
broadcasting duties extended far beyond its Wellington home at the Bathhouse as he was tapped to provide fresh viewpoints on TV3's Campbell Live and TVNZ's Close Up, and some memorable appearances on BBC radio (available in the provided media disc). Print-wise, Thian whipped up a
nationalist storm through his regular newspaper column in Wellington's Capital Times after a few sharp barbs pointed squarely at the South African fans and featured in numerous articles including a Sunday Magazine cover feature, complete with photos that would inspire you to swear off the pies forever.
The Jedi juggernaut continues in 2008, with the Alternative Rugby Commentary set to hit the big time, with increased
test match coverage and a tour abroad to the historic All Blacks vs Wallabies test in Hong Kong and then on to Europe.
With his extensive experience, Thian presents a clear and authoritative (and decidedly anti-authoritarian) voice on our
National Game. Thian is available for regular and one-off radio and television appearances for those programmes daring
enough to walk on the wild side of sports coverage. But wait, there's more: if it's a regular column of unique rugby
insight and wit, delivered on-time and within word-budget (let's face it, we know this is important!), then Jed's the
man for you.
The 2008 Alternative Rugby Commentary: All the balls you need.