It's been more than three long months since a rugby ball was passed or kicked with competition points on the line in Australia.
This weekend, that's all set to change as the Northern Territory and South Australia get back into action.
The Northern Territory's juniors will be the first in the country to play competitive matches when they run out on Friday night.
On Saturday, South Australia's premier grade competition will be the first to return to matches and they're making it extra special, doubling as a belated ANZAC Day commemoration.
RUGBY.com.au spoke to some of the players and coaches who will be among the first in the country to return to rugby this weekend.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
South Darwin U12s halfback Austin Caruana will be among the first rugby players to return to action on Friday night when the juniors competition becomes Australia's first to begin post-coronavirus.
Teams from U6s to U14s will all return on Friday night and while there is still a restriction on spectators, a 500-person limit means that families will be able to come along and watch their kids play.
Caruana has played rugby for four years and despite the lack of games during the sport's shutdown, he practises his skills most days, according to dad Andrew.
For the zippy halfback, the chance to get back to playing with his mates is the best part about rugby's return.
"I'm pretty excited, it's been a long time. I'm really looking forward to running around and playing with my friends," he said.
Palmerston Crocs U12s coach Jamie Liddleton, whose twin boys Oliver and Cooper also play in his team, is one man very much looking forward to rugby returning.
While lockdowns haven't been as severe in the Top End as in the east coast states, Liddleton is glad to have the community element of rugby restored.
"It's not until you mention it that we're the first that I thought think about it like that, that's really cool," he said.
"Rugby clubs are such good family environments so it'll be good to see a lot of parents come down and turn up on Friday night it's good, feels like we're getting back to what rugby's all about.
"Training Tuesdays and Thursdays,all being able to come down and watch.
"The kids are also really taking that next step this year with their skills so when it was looking like they might miss out on a year of rugby, that was devastating."
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australia is using its return to competition to mark one of its most significant days on the calendar and honour veteran and SA Rugby president Mike Von Berg.
SA Rugby lays claim to the first senior competition to return by half an hour over the Northern Territory on Saturday and they are making the day one of major significance.
Saturday's showpiece game will be an honorary ANZAC round match between last year's grand finalists Burnside and Brighton.
SA Rugby President and decorated military veteran Michael von Berg plays a significant role in the game and on the day, awarding his namesake medal to the player who most embodies the ANZAC values.
Von Berg served with the fifth Tiger battalion in the Vietnam War, awarded a Military Cross for his service, before leading the first Reconnaissance Platoon established in the infantry.
Rugby has played a central role in von Berg's life since leaving the army in 1973, the flanker playing in England and Nairobi, and also coaching a social United Nations team when living in Vienna.
Von Berg said he was eagerly awaiting the return of the sport that has given him so much throughout his life and combining it with their traditional ANZAC services.
"I’ve been basically having rugby withdrawal symptoms," he said.
"It’s always been an important part of my life and to have all this foisted upon us, I think South Australia has managed it very well and also the union managed it very well.
"The clubs through their committees and presidents have been very, very supportive and very encouraging and that just shows that when times are tough, we can work together.
"I think it’s been a really good, very good chance for clubs to get very close off the field....they’ve been very co-operative and harmonious, which is very encouraging."
Von Berg is an advocate for the importance of engaging in sport for mental health, especially when it comes to veterans.
The whole Australian community has felt the void that sport's absence has left in many people's regular routines and von Berg understands that feeling acutely.
"People really don’t understand how important sport overall is for a veteran who separates from the ADF," he said.
"Basically, it's a loss of tribe for them, whether they’ve been in the ADF for a short contractual period 3 or 6 years or for 26 years.
"All of a sudden out in the normal community and there is an enormous feeling of loss of pride, separation anxiety, sometimes a feeling of not having a self net worth," he said.
"It’s important to me to advocate that veterans try and get involved in something once they get out, not just in terms of having a job, but to actually have an interest and a focus in some voluntary capacity whether that’s the fire service or whether it’s a sport or legacy or rotary or whatever.
"Service people are renowned for giving and looking after mates and all of a sudden when they lose that there is a vacuum but if they get involved with a rugby club there is immediately another tribe that they can relate to and it’s an acceptance in the broader community rather than being stuck on their own and navel gazing."
On the field, two of the competition's powerhouses will fight it out and the hundreds of spectators cleared to attend will be hoping for a repeat of te one-point thriller that played out in last year's grand final.
Brighton coach Richard Wasley said it felt "unreal" to be preparing to return to the field as some of the first people in the country to do so.
"We're just very lucky, it's almost seems unreal. Even a couple of months ago we didn't think we'd have a season, so it's amazing how quickly it's turned around," he said.
"I think definitely the last two weeks when we came back to training, it was difficult at first with the number restrictions and zones and hard to get the guys too enthused but as restrictions have eased and groups have gotten bigger and more importantly contact, allowed a lot of people have started to spark up."
Burnside will be hosting the match and coach Wayne Vincent said it would be a major boost to have people around the club again.
"I think we can have 400 spectators with social distancing and the cricket club next door have offered up their bar and space so we can have more people with a larger area.
"With less home games, we'll have less revenue this year so we want to do everything we can to raise funds and keep the club growing."
RETURN DATES
Remaining premier grade competition start dates
WA - FMG Premier Grade - July 4
NSW - Shute Shield - July 18
QLD - Hospital Challenge Cup - August 1
VIC - Dewar Shield - TBC
