Editorial: We did it, and we did it well

Photo / Warren Buckland

In the last 30-odd years I have been to many rugby test matches around the world.

I have sat in the nosebleed seats in the rarefied air of Ellis Park in Johannesburg, soaked up the amazing atmosphere that is Twickenham in London, nearly froze to death at the Cake Tin in Wellington and enjoyed corporate hospitality at Auckland's Eden Park.

On Saturday I joined more than 23,000 others in the rain to attend the All Blacks-versus-Argentina test match at McLean Park in Napier.

I was looking forward to this match and had been thinking about it for the past month because Hawke's Bay Today partnered with the Hawke's Bay Rugby Union (HBRU) and the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) to promote it. We devoted quite a bit of space to encourage people to attend the match.

The reason was that we all realised that this match was important for Hawke's Bay. If this was done well then more such events would come our way and our economy would receive a boost.

I have had a tiny glimpse into what it has taken to get this test match off the ground and I can tell you that the NZRU and Mike Bishop, Jay Campbell and the team at HBRU have worked hard, very hard to make this a success.

So, was the event a success?

Absolutely. Even a rogue female streaker and the relentless rain could not dampen the occasion.

It was a fantastic night and proved once again that Hawke's Bay has the will, drive, capacity and capability to organise top-class events.

The future is very bright indeed.