Pre-season community rugby for the Hurricanes in 2015

Representative Rugby | 15 October 2014 | Hurricanes Rugby

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The Hurricanes and Tui Brewery are taking Super Rugby back to the country with a preseason game in Eketahuna.

The Eketahuna Rugby Club, which marked 125 years of rugby with jubilee celebrations earlier this year, will welcome the Hurricanes on January 31 as they take on the Crusaders.

Today’s announcement follows the success of four previous sold out preseason games involving the Hurricanes – three of which have been played at Mangatainoka, and the 2014 match played at Memorial Park in Masterton.

Hurricanes chief executive James Te Puni said Eketahuna would be a unique experience for both fans and 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.

“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.” ?

DB commercial manager Nick Rogers said it was fitting the big game was 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.

“Like the previous games held in Mangatainoka and Masterton, we expect this game to be embraced by everyone in the region.”

The decision to hold the game at Eketahuna was made after the Mangatainoka RFC ground was unavailable.

Hosting two of Super Rugby’s most passionate franchises in the Hurricanes and Crusaders is expected to provide rugby fans with an exciting game of footy and a great family day out.

There will be enough temporary seating at the Eketahuna Rugby Grounds to accommodate 4000 ticket-holders.

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