Southern roadie for Four Nations Trophy

Friday, July 10, 2015

Southern roadie for Four Nations Trophy

The Four Nations Trophy is hitting the road for a whistle-stop tour of the South Island next week.

Starting in Christchurch, the rugby league silverware will weave its way as far south as Invercargill, with stopovers in Ashburton, Geraldine, Timaru, Oamaru and Dunedin along the four-day journey.

Masterminded by NZ Rugby League communications intern and Timaru native Hayden Burford, the trip is designed to bring the trophy, won by the NZ Kiwis over Australia, England and Samoa last November, closer to fans, wherever they are.

“One of the real successes of the 2014 Kiwis campaign was the support we enjoyed throughout the country,” says NZRL communications manager Grant Chapman. “We deliberately chose some of New Zealand’s far-flung league outposts to host the team, so those fans had a rare chance to get up close to some of the world’s top players.

“But many of our players had never been to places like Whangarei, Queenstown or Dunedin, and they really rediscovered why they played the game and who they represented every time they pulled on the black jersey.

“We tried to get into the local communities as much as we could, and that interaction with fans and sponsors was also integral to our on-field success. This is a small way of saying thanks, especially to those who couldn’t attend our games.”

The trophy has already travelled extensively throughout the country this year and will continue to do so, until it is contested again in the United Kingdom next year.

“Most of the towns and cities visited on this road trip struggle to field their own rugby league teams, but that doesn’t mean they’re not passionate about New Zealanders achieving in international sport,” says Chapman.

“Some of our best players come from provincial centres – Kiwis captain Simon Mannering is from Nelson. NZRL is all about providing pathways from anywhere, whether they be within our game, as players, coaches, referees or administrators, or as a stepping stone towards study or careers outside rugby league.”

The South Island trophy tour schedule is:

Friday, July 17
10am Visit NZ Kiwis sponsor Revera in Christchurch
12.30-2pm Public opportunity/lunch at Robbie’s Bar & Bistro, Ashburton
3.30-6pm Public opportunity/dinner at Village Inn, Geraldine
7.30pm-late Public opportunity at Sail Bar, Timaru

Saturday, July 18
12-4pm Senior club games at Kensington Oval, Dunedin
7pm-late Public opportunity at Editor’s Cut Sports Bar, Kelvin Hotel, Invercargill

Sunday, July 19
1-2pm Visit to Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
4pm-late Public opportunity at Sports Central Brewhouse, Oamaru (NZ Warriors v Sydney Roosters)

Monday, July 20
9-10am Visit to Waitaki Boys High School, Oamaru
Noon-12.30pm Visit to St Joseph’s Primary School, Timaru
12.40-1.20pm Visit to Timaru Boys High School
2.30-3pm Visit to Geraldine Primary School

ends

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