Sport and Anzac Day - Lest We Forget

Anzac Day is a significant day on both sides of the Tasman and with the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings next time round, the gravity of the day will become ever greater as Australians and New Zealanders mark the day their ancestors sacrificed their lives and fought for their countries instead of Great Britain.

Indeed, Anzac Day instead of Waitangi and Australia Days has become the symbolic national days for both New Zealand and Australia respectively and a day when the best of both countries is celebrated - one of those being both countries' passion for sport.

Collingwood v Essendon on Anzac Day

In Australia, Anzac Day is a big day for two of the country's biggest winter codes, with the big game at the MCG between Collingwood and Essendon often sold out and the Dragons and Roosters - two of the NRL's original clubs - playing each other at the Sydney Football Stadium every year.

Yet in New Zealand, the idea of playing special games on Anzac Day is still a foreign concept and one that we haven't quite come to terms with.

Yes, there are years when Anzac Day has fallen on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, meaning that there is Super Rugby or a Warriors home game anyway - and there is the Anzac League test which isn't actually played on Anzac Day but we don't really have a Collingwood v Essendon or Dragons v Roosters game to look forward to on Anzac Day.

The trouble with Super Rugby is that tours to South Africa mean that it is quite hard to book a game between two Kiwi sides or a Kiwi and Aussie side on this side of the Tasman each year. However, that could be fixed with two traditional Aussie/Kiwi clashes on Anzac Day afternoon featuring whichever side is still on these sides.

Blues v Reds on Anzac Day could be a perfect way to celebrate Anzac Day afternoon

Imagine, Blues versus Brumbies in Auckland and then Waratahs versus Crusaders in Sydney at 2pm local time on Anzac Day - celebrating the best of trans-Tasman relationships.

The now annual Melbourne Storm v NZ Warriors game could alternate between Melbourne and Eden Park in Auckland every year to make the occasion really special.

Whatever the case, Anzac Day is a day to be proud to be Aussie or Kiwi and the most important people at heart are the soldiers who died for our freedom and pride.

Lest we forget.