Eketahuna to host Hurricanes match
The Eketahuna Rugby Club, which marked 125 years of rugby with jubilee celebrations earlier this year, will welcome the Hurricanes on Saturday, January 31st 2015 when they take on the Crusaders in a Super Rugby pre-season game.
The announcement follows the success of four previous sold out pre-season games involving the Hurricanes franchise – three of which have been played at Mangatainoka, next to Tui Brewery, and the 2014 game played at Memorial Park in Masterton.
DB commercial manager Nick Rogers, who has championed all pre-season games to date, says it is fitting the big game is returning back to heartland New Zealand.
“We’ve always believed in bringing the big game of Super Rugby back to provincial New Zealand and it’s exciting next year’s game will be held in Eketahuna, a club with a fantastic and proud history and a club with such loyal supporters,” he says. “Like the previous games held in Mangatainoka and in Masterton, we expect this game to be embraced by everyone in the region.”
Hurricanes chief executive James Te Puni says Eketahuna will be a unique experience for fans and for the players.
“Playing at Eke epitomises grassroots rugby and we know there’s a strong rugby community up there who will be thrilled to see the Hurricanes in their backyard,” says Mr Te Puni.
“Hurricanes territory not only includes our main centres, but our smaller rugby communities in between, so to be able to head somewhere new in 2015 is an exciting opportunity.”
The decision to hold the game at Eketahuna was made after the Mangatainoka RFC ground was unavailable.
Having two of Super Rugby’s most passionate franchises in the Hurricanes and Crusaders is expected to provide rugby fans with an exciting game of footie and be a great family day out. There will be enough temporary seating at the Eketahuna Rugby Grounds to accommodate all 4000 ticket-holders; pre and post game entertainment as well as an array of guest speakers while passionate fans are expected to turn out in their regional colours or colourful costumes.
Tickets for the Super Rugby pre-season game will go on sale on November 11th and be available through PGG Wrightson Stores and at Tui HQ, SH2, Mangatainoka.
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