Magpies #8 Gareth Evans pictured with the shield. Photo / Glenn Taylor
Magpies #8 Gareth Evans pictured with the shield. Photo / Glenn Taylor
Bay rugby fans must be pinching themselves right now. Not only do we have the All Blacks in town for their Rugby Championship match against Argentina but we are currently the holders of the Ranfurly Shield.
The Magpies' 27-21 win over Counties Manukau means we will now have three ofNew Zealand's most prized rugby possessions in the Bay; the Bledisloe Cup, the Rugby Championship Trophy and the Ranfurly Shield.
Hawke's Bay Rugby Union chief executive Mike Bishop has come out saying "this is going to be an enormous week for Hawke's Bay rugby".
Just look at the reception both teams received when they arrived at the airport at the weekend. It was fantastic.
The Hawke's Bay Rugby Union have even decided to leave a large chunk of the temporary seating erected at Napier's McLean Park for Saturday night's All Blacks test against Argentina to accommodate an anticipated big crowd for the first shield defence against Otago on September 14.
It's great to feel the vibe these two occasions have brought to our region. Events like this can have a positive flow on effect because when people are feeling happy they tend to spend money.
Let's hope the Magpies can hold on to the Log o' Wood because teams who challenge for the shield tend to bring more supporters who will in turn spend money within our region.
It's also great to see ticket sales for the test are selling well with only a few hundred left to sell. It would be great to see it sell out giving the New Zealand Rugby Union every reason to consider having more tests in the Bay.
