Respected sports presenter Bill Woods is the new home ground announcer for the Brumbies, getting behind the mic on Saturday night at the Canberra Stadium for the traditional grudge match against the NSW Waratahs.
Bill is practically a local, growing up in Broulee and Moruya before studying professional writing at the Canberra College of Advance Education (now the University of Canberra). He became a household name presenting Ten News at Five alongside Sandra Sully and Sports Tonight.
"I still consider myself a South Coast boy, even though I've lived in Sydney for, crikey, the best part of 37 years," he said.
Born in Moruya, Bill spent his early years in Broulee. His parents moved to Moruya so his dad could open a carpet shop.
"I never forgave them for selling the property at Broulee, which was probably only 20 metres from the beach," he said.
"It didn't have any views but you could walk over to go fishing or surfing and that's what I spent my childhood doing."
And despite living in Sydney, he won't be barracking for the Tahs.
"I'll have to go for the Brumbies. I've always had a soft spot for the Brumbies," he said.
"I love the way they play, I love the way they conduct themselves."
He was friends with former Brumby and Wallaby, Jeremy Paul. He could also boast playing a charity old boys' game with another Brumbies and Wallabies legend Joe Roff.
"JP was a regular on my Bill and Boz Show [on Fox Sports News] and he would often talk about the Brumbies' culture and where a lot of Australia's success came from that Brumbies culture," Woods said.
As the ground announcer, Bill promises to inject some fun into Saturday night's proceedings.
"It is sport and the whole point of it is enjoyment, so I won't be afraid to have a joke with the players and our guests and to put a smile on people's faces," he said.
"It'll be expert commentary but it won't be over-serious."
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