Porirua Park Hosts International Schools Rugby Battle

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For immediate release
Date: 23.09.14

Porirua Park Hosts International Schools Rugby Battle

Top schoolboy rugby talent will be on display at Porirua Park next week for a clash between school teams representing New Zealand, Australian and Fiji.

Porirua City Council is partnering with College Sport Wellington to bring the action to Porirua Park.

There will be four big games that are also being screened live on SKY Rugby Channel.

• Tuesday 30 September: NZ Barbarians Schools v Australia Schools 1:10pm and NZ Schools v Fiji Schools 2:50pm • Saturday 4 October: NZ Barbarians Schools v Fiji Schools 1:10pm and NZ Schools v Australia Schools 2:50pm

College Sport Wellington Sport Manager Dave Mackenzie says it’s the first time in many years that the annual clash has been played in Wellington and Porirua Park has been chosen because it is such an outstanding facility.

He’s expecting a very high standard of rugby to be on display and is hoping for plenty of local spectator support for the teams.

“The 1st XV schools competition at this level is very good. There’s no doubt the quality of play will be of the highest standard."

A handful of Wellington players are likely to feature in the NZ Schools and Barbarians teams, and the Fijian team is basing itself in Porirua and training at Bishop Viard College, “so I imagine that will help build a bit of local support”.

Mayor Nick Leggett says it is great to see such high quality rugby being played in Porirua.

”The atmosphere is always good at Porirua Park. Its compact nature keeps spectators close to the action and the 2000 seat grandstand means they stay dry too."

Porirua Park has hosted all significant New Zealand Secondary School rugby in 2014, not only hosting the Tranzit Coachlines 1st XV Festival, but also the Premier 1 Final, Co-Ed Cup Final, and NZ Schools Test matches.

Mayor Leggett says securing such high-quality international games is a real endorsement of the facilities and the staff that keep the ground in such good condition.

“We look forward to hosting this event and I’m sure there will be plenty of local support for these talented young players."

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