The Axemen players and staff faced the incredibly hot conditions on Saturday afternoon as they secured their second National Championship appearance by defeating the Aston Bulls at UNF. They then braved the rain, wind and lightning as they were hosted by the Jaguars to a great pre-season NFL game.

"To be honest, the feeling of knowing we are going to the championship for a second straight year was more than enough to offset any damping of our spirits with a bit a bad weather" commented an Axemen player.

Adrian Grayson, who is one of the Australian import players for the Axemen had no problem with the rain and enjoyed his first NFL game and was impressed at the professionalism of every aspect of the Jaguars event. "Yeah it was a little wet but with so much entertainment going on you hardly notice the rain. Some guy even won a car during the game by just kicking and throwing a ball down the field. The entertainment just never stops", said Grayson. In all there where 6 international members in the Axemen group that got to experience the NFL for the first time thanks to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Axemen and many of their fans are not only big supporters of the Jaguars but many hold season tickets and attend all the home games. "This town is great", said one fan, "you can watch contact football of some code almost 12 months of the year in Jacksonville."

The Jaguars have supported the Axemen in a variety of ways over the years and have hosted every international Rugby League team to some form of tour at Everbank Stadium during their visit to Jacksonville. "We are extremely fortunate and grateful that an NFL team has been so open to our code of football and especially to the Axemen and the international teams we have hosted", said Spinner Howland, "they have shown not only support to us but have been a great good-will ambassador for the City of Jacksonville around the world. The Jaguars are certainly a very well known NFL brand within the Rugby League community around the world."