Loren Hann (left) and Daniel Somerville say getting the host of items was only possible by the support of the Helping Hand Auction Services Group. Photo / Paul Taylor
Loren Hann (left) and Daniel Somerville say getting the host of items was only possible by the support of the Helping Hand Auction Services Group. Photo / Paul Taylor
Hawke's Bay Rugby has put together an enormous, and potentially lucrative, auction list that it will sell off during Ireland rugby coach Joe Schmidt's much-anticipated visit.
The auction items listed range from a guitar signed by all members of the Rolling Stones, a 7-night stay in Phuket for 10 guests,a framed microphone signed by Taylor Swift and a vintage Iron Man comic signed by Robert Downey jnr and the late Stan Lee.
There's also some impressive sporting-related items up for grabs including a golf flag signed by all living Masters winners, Lionel Messi's signed No 10 Barcelona jersey, Kane Williamson's signed bat, and a luxury trip to the F1 Monaco Grand Prix.
All profits from the auction will be going to the Jarrod Cunningham Youth Sports Trust.
Commercial Manager at Hawke's Bay Rugby Daniel Somerville said the list of items is an amazing haul to have at the event.
"The stuff we were able to get for the auction is some very impressive memorabilia and trips which is all valuable stuff," Somerville said.
The host of items was made possible with the support of the Helping Hand Auction Services Group, Somerville said.
Helping Hand gathers high-end memoribilia and trips through its many connections and provides them to various fundraisers with low reserves so that charities see more of the profit.
"There's a reserve set on the items by them and when they sell the profits will be going to our chosen charity and they get the reserve," Somerville said.
One of the many high-value items up for auction is a signed Rolling Stones guitar.
Somerville says the event is starting to come together nicely with hundreds of tickets already sold.
"We have sold around 250–300 tickets already and hope to sell around 450 by the time the event comes around."
Schmidt will be at the Exhibition Hall at the A&P Showgrounds on April 5.
