All Blacks Season Opener Set to be a Special Night
The special nature of the All Blacks v Fiji Test for Canterbury is being acknowledged with some extra highlights both on and off the field.
With 51 days to go to Rugby World Cup 2011 this is the first opportunity to see the All Blacks in action this year. The season opening Test is also the anchor for a number of initiatives aimed at raising funds and showing support for the people of Canterbury following February’s devastating earthquake.
NZRU CEO Steve Tew said New Zealand Rugby and many of our partners have joined together to create some great initiatives aimed at supporting Canterbury’s continued rebuild.
“We will host some very special guests from Christchurch at the Test. Our ‘First XV’ were chosen from hundreds of nominees for deserving Cantabrians sent into the Christchurch Press.”
“After everything the people of Christchurch have been going through it’s a privilege to reward this group and their friends and partners with a night out and a first chance to see the All Blacks,” he said.
One excited pair is father and son, Damian and Sam Curtain, from Burwood. Damian nominated his rugby mad 11-year old because the earthquakes had disrupted their normal routine and they were missing their usual Canterbury, Crusaders and All Blacks games.
The proud coach of his son’s Shirley RFC Under 11 rugby team reckons Sam has been smiling for days about the trip and is excited about meeting some All Blacks legends.
Since the September earthquake forced St Paul’s to close Sam’s now attending his third school.
“You just work around a lot of things in this situation but it has been hard on the kids, who’re coping pretty good,” he added.
The evening’s entertainment includes Invercargill born and Christchurch raised singer Jason Kerrison performing his band OPSHOP’s tribute to his home city ‘Love Will Always Win’ and the number one hit ‘One Day’. All proceeds from the tribute single are going to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. He’ll be joined by 75 pupils from Balmacewen Intermediate School who will be flying the flag for Canterbury in a very special routine to unite the South Island in support of Canterbury.
Jason will also perform the New Zealand anthem while Pacific icon and international soloist Lapi Mariner will perform the Fijian Anthem.
Fans are encouraged to turn up by 6pm to catch the curtain raiser and cheer on six young South Island Rippa Rugby teams - including New Brighton and Burnside from Christchurch. Air New Zealand will be transporting the two Christchurch teams in their “Crazy About Rugby” campervans. The Rippa Rugby action culminates in a final at approximately 7.05pm.
Other initiatives to support Canterbury
- NZRU is donating all net profits from ticket sales to Canterbury recovery efforts, with the majority distributed through the Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.
- Donating some to the All Blacks official charities, Plunket and KidsCan
- Fans at Carisbrook and watching the game on television wishing to make a donation will be able to text 993 to donate $3
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All Blacks v Fiji For Canterbury Test
Carisbrook, Dunedin, 7.35PM, Friday 22 July
Tickets from Ticket Direct, phone: 0800 224 224 or www.ticketdirect.co.nz
Children from $25 and adults from $50
Juli Clausen
NZRU Media
M: 027 570 7045