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Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Rugby: Israel Dagg's family delighted

By Shane Hurndell
Hawkes Bay Today·
2 Dec, 2013 04:00 PM4 mins to read

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Here's a remarkable statistic relating to Hawke's Bay and All Blacks fullback Israel Dagg.

Since his ABs debut against Ireland in 2010 Dagg, 23, has played 38 games for the world champions. However, his grandfather, former Magpies and Otago representative Pat Dagg, 81, has yet to attend one of his ABs games.

But that will change on Saturday, September 6 next year when the All Blacks host Argentina in a Four Nations fixture at Napier's McLean Park.

"It's on home turf. I better go to that one and providing the young fella is in the team and I'm still alive, I'll be there," Dagg snr quipped when informed about the 7.35pm test.

"Hopefully it won't be too cold. I've seen Izzy play a couple of games for his Pirates club and some for the Magpies but this will be pretty special," he added.

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Dagg's mother, Horiana Nukutarawhiti, was stoked when she heard the news.

"The whole family can go to this one. Hopefully Izzy can get enough tickets because there will be at least seven of us plus the two papas," she said, referring to Pat Dagg and her father Henare Nukutarawhiti.

"If he can't, Pete [Dagg's father] and I will forfeit going. If it's cold we might be able to get the two papas into a corporate box," she said.

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While she has watched her son play for the All Blacks in New Zealand, Dagg's mum has yet to watch him play for the ABs overseas. Her last trip to watch him out of New Zealand was for the world title-winning New Zealand under-19s in Ireland in 2007.

"I'm saving profusely with the aim of going on next year's end-of-year tour if he is still in the side and the long-term goal is the 2015 World Cup in England if Izzy is still fortunate enough to be picked," she said.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union CEO Mike Bishop was equally as delighted with New Zealand Rugby's allocation of 2014 tests as members of Dagg's immediate family. "Getting our first All Black test here in 18 years is fantastic news," Bishop said, referring to the fact the last All Blacks test at McLean Park was against Manu Samoa on June 7, 1996.

All Black legend Christian Cullen scored three tries on debut during the ABs' 51-10 victory.

Bishop is expecting a sellout crowd of 22,500, all of whom will be seated. He said the embankment would be replaced by temporary seating on this occasion.

There will also be temporary seating in front of the Harris, Centennial and Graeme Lowe stands.

"Fingers crossed Izzy will be in the team and possibly other Magpies, which will add to the local flavour," Bishop said.

His union was grateful for the part the Napier City Council had played in securing the fixture.

The commercial manager for the Hawke's Bay union, Jay Campbell, said fans purchasing 2014 season tickets from the union would be guaranteed preferential access to the September 6 test tickets.

The Napier test will be one of six the All Blacks play on home turf next year.

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In addition to the All Blacks' three tests against England during the June Steinlager Series, the Crusaders will also play England in a midweek match in Christchurch on June 17.

"England, like France last year, were keen to add a midweek match to their itinerary so it's great that we can provide them a high-quality opponent in the Crusaders after the second test in Dunedin," New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew said.

"Given the heritage shared by England and Canterbury, this is sure to be a very special night."

The Steinlager Series wraps up in Hamilton on June 21, the night after the final of the 2014 Junior World Championship at Eden Park, Auckland.

"We expect Waikato fans will be there in numbers backing black as they did so well this year for the Argentina match despite the conditions that day," Tew said.

In addition to McLean Park, Eden Park and Wellington's Westpac Stadium will host tests during the Investec Rugby Championship.

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"We are really pleased to be taking test match rugby back to McLean Park, which proved a great venue during Rugby World Cup 2011.

"The city warmly welcomed France, Canada and Japan for two matches during the Cup and fans turned out in force, so I am sure they will turn it on again for our Argentinian visitors next year," Tew said.

Dagg has been overseas since the end of the All Blacks tour but will be back in the Bay this weekend.

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