Editing Russell Crowe (section)

== Sport ==
[[File:Russell Crowe North Sydney Bears.jpg|thumb|right|Crowe on the pitch at a [[North Sydney Bears]] game in 2017]]

=== Rugby league ===
He has been the co-owner of the [[National Rugby League]] (NRL) team [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]] since 2006; Crowe has been a supporter of the team since childhood. After his rise to fame as an actor, he has continued appearing at home games and supported the financially troubled club. Following the [[Super League war]] of the 1990s, he made an attempt to use his Hollywood connections to convince [[Ted Turner]], a rival of Super League's [[Rupert Murdoch]], to save the Rabbitohs before they were forced from the [[NRL]] competition for two years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weidler |first=Danny |date=12 July 1998 |title=Banking on Burt |page=96 |work=[[The Sun-Herald]] |location=Australia |url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news980715_0462_0394 |access-date=4 May 2010 |archive-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615162623/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news980715_0462_0394 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1999, Crowe paid {{nowrap|A$42,000}} at auction for the brass bell used to open the [[1908 NSWRFL season|inaugural rugby league]] match in Australia in 1908 at a fundraiser to assist Souths' legal battle for re-inclusion in the league.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kent |first=Paul |date=22 November 1999 |title=Emotions run high at fighting fund function, as Rabbitohs plan their next wave |page=33 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=Farfax |location=Australia |url=http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news991122_0355_4050 |access-date=4 May 2010 |archive-date=15 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615162630/http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=smh&docID=news991122_0355_4050 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2005, he made the Rabbitohs the first club team in Australia to be sponsored by a film, when he negotiated a deal to advertise his film ''Cinderella Man'' on their jerseys.<ref>{{Cite news |last=[[Australian Associated Press]] |date=11 March 2005 |title=Crowe sees ad trend |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |location=Australia |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/League/Crowe-sees-ad-trend/2005/03/10/1110417615712.html |access-date=30 June 2010 |archive-date=6 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106105622/http://www.smh.com.au/news/League/Crowe-sees-ad-trend/2005/03/10/1110417615712.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 19 March 2006, the voting members of the South Sydney club voted (in a 75.8% majority) to allow Crowe and businessman [[Peter Holmes à Court]] to purchase 75% of the organisation, leaving 25% ownership with the members. It cost them {{nowrap|A$3 million}}, and they received four of eight seats on the board of directors. A six-part television miniseries entitled ''[[South Side Story (2007 TV series)|South Side Story]]'' depicting the takeover aired in Australia in 2007.<ref name="News&file=article&sid=2187">{{Cite web |last=M/C Reviews |title=Television: South Side Story&nbsp;– Who will Russell be next week? |url=http://reviews.media-culture.org.au/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2187 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312000152/http://www.reviews.media-culture.org.au/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2187 |archive-date=12 March 2011 |access-date=10 April 2010 |publisher=Reviews.media-culture.org.au}}</ref>
On 5 November 2006, Crowe appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'' to announce that [[Firepower International]] was sponsoring the South Sydney Rabbitohs for {{nowrap|US$3 million}} over three years,<ref>Ryle, Gerald [https://www.smh.com.au/news/business/where-theres-smoke-its-a-job-for-firepower/2007/02/23/1171734017315.html Where there's smoke it's a job for Firepower] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705083152/http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/where-theres-smoke-its-a-job-for-firepower/2007/02/23/1171734017315.html |date=5 July 2017 }}''Sydney Morning Herald''. 24 February 2007</ref> showing viewers a Rabbitoh playing jersey with Firepower's name emblazoned on it.<ref>McDonald, Margie [https://archive.today/20120731145147/http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,,20730820-23214,00.html Souths introduce random tests]''Foxsports'', 10 November 2006</ref>

Crowe helped to organise a rugby league game that took place at the [[University of North Florida]], in [[Jacksonville, Florida]], between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the [[2007 Super League Grand Final]] winners the Leeds Rhinos on 26 January 2008 ([[Australia Day]]). Crowe told [[ITV Local]] Yorkshire the game was not a marketing exercise.<ref>{{Cite news |last=ITV Local |date=28 January 2006 |title=Stone the Crowes |url=http://www.itvlocal.com/yorkshire/sport/?void=144869 |access-date=28 January 2008 |archive-date=11 March 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080311001108/http://www.itvlocal.com/yorkshire/sport/?void=144869 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Crowe wrote a letter of apology to a Sydney newspaper following the sacking of South Sydney's coach [[Jason Taylor (rugby league)|Jason Taylor]] and one of their players [[David Fa'alogo]] after a drunken altercation between the two at the end of the [[2009 NRL season]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 September 2009 |title=No room for any sympathy |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/no-room-for-any-sympathy-by-russell-crowe/news-story/e1e48fdcdc8a08f2bc776649d04870e5 |access-date=7 January 2020 |website=www.dailytelegraph.com.au}}</ref>
Also in 2009, Crowe persuaded young England international forward [[Sam Burgess]] to sign with the Rabbitohs over other clubs that were competing for his signature, after inviting Burgess and his mother to the set of ''Robin Hood'', which he was filming in Britain at the time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Laybourn |first=Ian |year=2009 |title=Burgess&nbsp;– crowe clinched souths deal |work=Sporting Life |publisher=365 Media Group Ltd |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/10/27/manual_155130.html |access-date=29 October 2009 |archive-date=5 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605032721/http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyleague/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rleague/09/10/27/manual_155130.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Crowe's influence helped to persuade noted player [[Greg Inglis]] to renege on his deal to join the [[Brisbane Broncos]] and sign for the Rabbitohs for 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walter |first=Brad |date=9 November 2010 |title=Crowe has kept me in the game, says Inglis |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |location=Australia |url=https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/crowe-has-kept-me-in-the-game-says-inglis-20101108-17kjl.html |access-date=12 November 2010 |archive-date=11 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111135629/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/crowe-has-kept-me-in-the-game-says-inglis-20101108-17kjl.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
In 2010, the NRL was investigating Crowe's business relationships with a number of media and entertainment companies including [[Nine Network|Channel Nine]], [[Seven Network|Channel Seven]], [[ANZ Stadium]] and [[V8 Supercars]] in relation to the South Sydney Rabbitohs' salary cap.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Phil Rothfield & Rebecca Wilson |date=5 December 2010 |title=Crowe subject of NRL cap probe |work=The Telegraph |publisher=[[News Ltd]] |location=Australia |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/crowe-subject-of-nrl-cap-probe/story-e6freye0-1225965672455 |access-date=7 December 2010 |archive-date=6 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206174208/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/crowe-subject-of-nrl-cap-probe/story-e6freye0-1225965672455 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2011, Souths also announced a corporate partnership with the bookmaking conglomerate [[Luxbet]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barrett |first=Chris |date=26 January 2011 |title=Gallop moves to allay concern as Souths take plunge on Star City deal |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |location=Australia |url=https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/gallop-moves-to-allay-concern-as-souths-take-plunge-on-star-city-deal-20110125-1a4a9.html |access-date=26 January 2011 |archive-date=28 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128071853/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/gallop-moves-to-allay-concern-as-souths-take-plunge-on-star-city-deal-20110125-1a4a9.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Previously, Crowe had been prominent in trying to prevent gambling being associated with the Rabbitohs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Taylor |first=Rob |date=3 January 2008 |title=Russell Crowe rallies against gambling |work=Reuters |location=Australia |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSYD3782620080103 |access-date=26 January 2011 |archive-date=7 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080107140938/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSYD3782620080103 |url-status=live }}</ref>
In May 2011, Crowe helped arrange to have Fox broadcast the [[2011 State of Origin series]] live for the first time in the United States, in addition to the NRL Grand Final.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Massoud |first=Josh |date=26 May 2011 |title=Russell Crowe facilitates live State of Origin coverage into US |work=[[Herald Sun]] |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/russell-crowe-facilitates-live-state-of-origin-coverage-into-us/story-e6frfghx-1226063021257 |access-date=11 June 2011 |archive-date=5 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505230626/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/russell-crowe-facilitates-live-state-of-origin-coverage-into-us/story-e6frfghx-1226063021257 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In November 2012 the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]] confirmed that Russell Crowe was selling his 37.5 per cent stake in the club.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 November 2012 |title=Rabbitohs confirm Crowe selling stake |work=ABC News |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |location=Australia |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-19/rabbitohs-confirm-crowe-selling-up/4379510 |access-date=22 November 2012 |archive-date=22 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122143136/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-19/rabbitohs-confirm-crowe-selling-up/4379510 |url-status=live }}</ref>
At the Rabbitohs Annual General Meeting on 3 March 2013, Chairman [[Nick Pappas]] claimed Crowe "would not be selling his shareholding in the short-to-medium term and at this stage has no intention of selling at all".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walter |first=Brad |date=4 March 2013 |title=Crowe holding on to Souths ownership |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |location=Australia |url=https://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/crowe-holding-on-to-souths-ownership-20130304-2ffa1.html |access-date=4 March 2013 |archive-date=6 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306035916/http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/crowe-holding-on-to-souths-ownership-20130304-2ffa1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Crowe was a guest presenter at the [[2013 Dally M Awards]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hindis |first=Richard |date=3 October 2013 |title=NRL has finally got it right with Dally M and Grand Final week |work=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)]] |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/richard-hinds-nrl-has-gotten-it-right-with-dally-m-and-grand-final-week/story-fni3fh9n-1226731846986 |access-date=26 October 2013 |archive-date=3 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131003010331/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/richard-hinds-nrl-has-gotten-it-right-with-dally-m-and-grand-final-week/story-fni3fh9n-1226731846986 |url-status=live }}</ref> and presented the prestigious [[Dally M Medal]] to winner [[Cooper Cronk]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chandra |first=Jessica |date=2 October 2013 |title=NRL Stars and Glamorous WAGs Light Up the Dally M Awards |publisher=popsugar.com.au |url=http://www.popsugar.com.au/2013-Dally-M-Awards-NRL-Players-WAGs-Red-Carpet-Pictures-32018814 |access-date=26 October 2013 |archive-date=15 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015181638/http://www.popsugar.com.au/2013-Dally-M-Awards-NRL-Players-WAGs-Red-Carpet-Pictures-32018814 |url-status=live }}</ref> Russell was present at the [[2014 NRL Grand Final]] when the Rabbitohs won the NRL premiership for the first time in 43 years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tedeschi |first=Nick |date=7 October 2014 |title=South Sydney Rabbitohs' grand final win is Russell Crowe's creation |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/australia-culture-blog/2014/oct/07/south-sydney-rabbitohs-grand-final-win-is-russell-crowes-creation |access-date=30 January 2016 |archive-date=11 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911062214/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/australia-culture-blog/2014/oct/07/south-sydney-rabbitohs-grand-final-win-is-russell-crowes-creation |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Other sporting interests ===
Two of his cousins, [[Martin Crowe]] and [[Jeff Crowe]], captained the [[New Zealand national cricket team]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 January 2015 |title=Inspirational Martin Crowe's eyes on Cricket World Cup |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11383293 |access-date=25 March 2015 |archive-date=16 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116141231/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11383293 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Crowe watches and plays cricket, and captained the 'Australian' Team containing [[Steve Waugh]] against an English side in the 'Hollywood Ashes' Cricket Match.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 January 2008 |title=Russell Crowe captains cricket side &#124; Herald Sun |publisher=News.com.au |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23078250-662,00.html |access-date=10 April 2010 |archive-date=7 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207001926/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23078250-662,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 July 2009, Crowe took to the commentary box for British sports channel [[Sky Sports]] as the 'third man' during the second [[Test cricket|Test]] of the [[2009 Ashes series]], between England and Australia.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Holding Delighted to work with Crowe |publisher=Sky Sports |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12940_5292427,00.html |access-date=10 April 2010 |archive-date=21 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121023327/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12940_5292427,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Crowe is a fan of the New Zealand [[All Blacks]] rugby team.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Orzessek |first=Eli |date=29 October 2015 |title=Rugby World Cup final: All Blacks have the best celebrity fans |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11536519 |access-date=13 March 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807011159/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11536519 |url-status=live }}</ref>

He is friends with [[Lloyd Carr]], the former coach of the [[Michigan Wolverines football|University of Michigan Wolverines]] American football team, and Carr used Crowe's movie ''[[Cinderella Man]]'' to motivate his [[2006 Michigan Wolverines football team|2006 team]] following a 7–5 season the previous year. Upon hearing of this, Crowe called Carr and invited him to Australia to address his rugby league team, the [[South Sydney Rabbitohs]], which Carr did the following summer. In September 2007, after Carr came under fire following the Wolverines' [[2007 Michigan Wolverines football team|0–2 start]], Crowe travelled to [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]] for the Wolverines' 15 September game against [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]] to show his support for Carr. He addressed the team before the game and watched from the sidelines as the Wolverines defeated the Irish 38–0.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012|reason=for this paragraph}}
Crowe is also a fan of the [[National Football League]]. On 22 October 2007, Crowe appeared in the booth of a Monday night game between the [[Indianapolis Colts]] and the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]].<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2007-11-04-cbs-pats-colts_N.htm "CBS announcers let Patriots-Colts game speak for itself"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121091146/http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/hiestand-tv/2007-11-04-cbs-pats-colts_N.htm |date=21 November 2009 }} ''USA Today'', 4 November 2007</ref>

He is also a fan of [[Leeds United]] and narrated the [[Amazon Prime]] documentary ''[[Take Us Home: Leeds United]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Video |first=Source: Prime |date=24 July 2019 |title=Take Us Home: Leeds United docu-series on Bielsa's first season, narrated by Russell Crowe – trailer |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2019/jul/24/take-us-home-leeds-united-docu-series-marcelo-bielsa-russell-crowe-trailer |access-date=14 April 2020 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806195826/https://www.theguardian.com/football/video/2019/jul/24/take-us-home-leeds-united-docu-series-marcelo-bielsa-russell-crowe-trailer |url-status=live }}</ref>