Porirua Park Host Training Ground For Rwc 2011

News Release
12 August 2011

Porirua Park Host Training Ground For Rwc 2011

From Tuesday 23 August, Porirua Park will become the host training ground for teams from Fiji, Wales, Canada and USA during Rugby World Cup 2011.

Porirua Mayor Nick Leggett says the city is looking forward to rolling out the welcome mat.

"We are proud to be hosting Wales, Canada, Fiji and USA and to be able to offer them excellent facilities. The quality of Porirua Park is second only in the region to the Wellington Stadium and we also have wet and dry facilities under one roof at Te Rauparaha Arena so the teams will have an all-round high performance training experience."

He says public training days will be announced closer to the time so locals can head to the park and see some of the world's greatest rugby players in action.

"It will be an awesome opportunity for locals to experience some of the excitement of the World Cup on their doorstep."

From 23 August Rugby New Zealand 2011 will begin erecting additional security fencing and stationing security guards at the grounds, and from 31st August to October 9th the area will be for the international teams' exclusive use, says Leisure Assets and Services Manager Karyn Stillwell.

This means that the Porirua Park Number One field and the two walkways behind the grandstand will be closed for Rugby World Cup 2011 purposes.

"Like other Councils, PCC is closing this area to enable RNZ 2011 to provide heightened security at the park particularly during periods where teams are physically in residence at the grounds. We also want to ensure that the field does not get any additional usage during the event."

Local residents who would normally cut through Porirua Park will need to walk further down Gear Terrace, turn right onto Bromley View and walk through to Mungavin Avenue. This will add another 700metres to the walk but it's on an easy path that is less steep than the incline through the park.

Mrs Stillwell says although the entrance to the park will be cordoned off, the Northern United Rugby Football Club, for whom Porirua Park is their home base, will still have access to their nearby clubrooms.

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