Pumped for Pre-Season Rugby at Mangatainoka

PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, January 13, 2010

New Zealand Rugby Greats Pumped for Pre-Season Game at Mangatainoka

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Rugby great Sir Brian Lochore is thrilled about the prospect of returning to the Mangatainoka Rugby Football club grounds next weekend as part of the festivities for the Super 14 pre-season game between the Hurricanes and the Blues.

Sir Brian, who captained the All Blacks from 1966 to 1970, is among a trio of leading rugby personalities who have been invited to speak to 1000 corporate ticket holders at the January 23rd event which is expected to draw crowds from all over the lower North Island. Sir Brian will be joined by Colin ‘Pinetree’ Meads, who played 133 games for the All Blacks between 1957 and 1971, and leading rugby commentator Keith Quinn in talking about the importance of heartland to New Zealand and how games such as this can unite a community.

“I think bring this pre-season game at Mangatainoka is a fantastic idea and I am sure it’s going to be incredibly well supported … it’s not in a major centre but it’s going to be a major attraction,” said Sir Brian. “Certainly the Auckland based players don’t often have the opportunity to mix with country people very much and having the Hurricanes connect with supporters in the provinces is what rugby should be about.”

The Super 14 pre-season opener is the brainchild of Tui Brewery commercial manager and Wairarapa resident Nick Rogers who is determined to help bring about a groundswell of grassroots support.

“This is the sort of rugby the New Zealand public is seeking – they want to come for the love of their game, their team and their area,” said Mr Rogers. “We want to show how Mangatainoka, a small town community, can bring rugby to life in true No 8 wire style.”

The game, which will have seating for 6500 people, will be played next door to the Tui Brewery and is almost a sell-out with less than 300 tickets left. Mr Rogers expected all the tickets to be sold before next weekend.

Sir Brian, who was knighted in 1999 for his service and contribution to rugby, agrees and said he’s looking forward to returning to the Mangatainoka RFC - a place he has played “loads” of times before. He hoped the match would draw attention to the importance of rugby to New Zealand communities and highlighted last year’s Wairarapa club rugby final between East Coast and Masterton Red Star as a classic example of how this can happen.

“Rugby is part of the fabric of country towns and little country schools around New Zealand,” said Sir Brian. “If they weren’t playing rugby we’d loose those talented kids to other sports.”

“Case in point was the club rugby final with the East Coast - I reckon 75 percent of the people from that area would’ve been at that final and it was great to see them out supporting their team. That’s how it should be. It unites an area and makes such a difference to how people think.”

Ticket holders to next Saturday’s pre-season game, which kicks off at 3pm, will also be able to catch an entertaining curtain raiser between a Tui Invitational XV and a Mangatainoka RFC Invitation XV that begins at 1pm. Gates open at 12.30pm.

Those still wanting to snap up the remaining tickets can do so either online www.tui.co.nz or at local PGG Wrightson stores.

ENDS

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