Bars create party atmosphere to show cup games

World's End Bar and Restaurant is preparing to black out the bar for the All Black matches at the Rugby World Cup. Photo / John Borren

Some Tauranga bars and restaurants are preparing to open early for the Rugby World Cup matches and avid fans have plenty of venues to choose from if they want to watch the All Blacks live.

World's End Bar & Restaurant owner Cameron Keogh said preparations were being made to black out the windows in the downstairs bar during all the All Blacks matches.

The first match, against Argentina, kicks off at 3.45am on Monday.

Mr Keogh said bar staff would be dressing in All Black's gear for the occasion and two big screens would show the matches during the "blackout party".

Hungry patrons could take advantage of his World Cup big breakfast special deal, and he had specially bought some recently re-released stock of Steinlager white beer for the occasion.

"We're aiming to create a real World Cup party atmosphere and everyone will know which team we're supporting for sure, he said.

At the last Rugby World Cup, Steinlager ran its white can campaign in recognition of an All Blacks fan who had an unopened can of beer since the 1987 World Cup, which was promptly drunk in 2011 when the All Blacks lifted the trophy.

The Papamoa Tavern would also be opening early for all the All Black matches to enable fans to watch the games on the big TV screens, a spokesperson said.

The tavern would be opening early for all the matches, apart from Friday's game between England and Fiji from 7am.

Mount Maunganui's Latitude 37 restaurant and bar plans to open early for the England v Fiji match and The All Blacks v Argentina clash on September 21.

"It is very much a low-key trial at this stage and based on the amount of interest we will then decide what we will do from there," a spokesperson said.

The Push Back for Black campaign petition advocating for a later start and finish to the standard work day during the Rugby World Cup is gaining momentum.

Becca Tauranga's regional manager Gavin Frost said the branch's 180 staff had been told that as long as they put in the standard hours during their working week, they could start a little later.

"It's something we always do for big sporting events like the football [soccer] and America's Cup and we like to go really big on these types of huge sporting occasions.