Official rugby fan zones set up at Hawke's Bay venues from tomorrow night will bring the excitement of Rugby World Cup matches to the public.
Large screens will show select matches, while state-of-the-art sound systems allow people to experience the action in high quality.
"The overriding thing is there are a lot of places to watch the rugby but these zones will have large screens and large sound," Rugby World Cup Hawke's Bay events co-ordinator Peter Mooney said. "It's a chance to watch the matches in the company of other people."
The Hawke's Bay Opera House is the Hastings fan zone, and will show the All Blacks versus France game tomorrow at 8.30pm, followed by the semifinals on October 15 and 16, and the final on October 23.
"The atmosphere inside the theatre will allow rugby fans to become part of the greatest sporting spectacle to ever be held in New Zealand," Opera House manager Roger Coleman said.
Pre-match entertainment for the first semifinal will be provided by Dusty Rhodes and the Bluesmobile, while local alt-country-punk act Devils Elbow perform before the second semi. The well-known Hawke's Bay band, Tropical Downbeat, will welcome people to the final.
The venue holds about 900 fans and while entry is free, those hoping to attend are urged to get a ticket from the Opera House box office or the Hastings i-Site before the matches.
In Napier, people can combine RWC fever with local Art Deco tradition as they come together to watch both semifinals and the final, with pre-match entertainment from the Twin City Stompers before all three viewings at the Napier Municipal Theatre.
"We chose an Art Deco theme for Napier," Mr Mooney said. "That will be combined with video material provided by Rugby New Zealand and music tailored for the big screen that will run before the match."
The theatre holds 990 people, and while entry is free it is first in, first seated. Entertainment starts at 7pm, with kick-off at 9pm.
In Waipukurau, people can gather at the Civic Theatre for both semifinals and the final.
Entry to the fan zone will be free and no food or drink can be brought into the theatre. Doors open from 8pm for the 9pm kick-off.
The Wairoa community has a chance to see four matches on the large screen at the Gaiety Theatre, with the first, the All Blacks vs France, tomorrow at 8.30pm. A street party will provide food and entertainment from 5.30pm. The New Zealand quarter-final on October 8 or 9, the New Zealand semifinal on October 15 or 16 and the final will also be screened. Entry to the fan zone will be free and no food or drink can be taken into the theatre. Doors will open from 8pm for a 9pm kick-off.