Tots eye tea with Hurricanes

Khan Williams, left, and Myah Thompson, both aged 4, were having a ball in Hastings yesterday at the Rascals Childcare Centre's yellow-and-black day. They hope to win the centre a morning tea visit from the Hurricanes before next Friday's Super 15 rugby match against the Highlanders in Napier. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hurricanes supporters come in all sizes, including the little rippers at Rascals Childcare in Hastings.

Dozens of them showed their allegiances - or those of their mums and dads - at a yellow-and-black day at the preschool centre yesterday, as part of a morning-tea with the Hurricanes competition run by radio station The Hits 89.5

Among them were 4-year-olds Khan Williams and Myah Thompson, who may even be able to offer a few tips if the centre wins the right to share the play-lunch with the big rugby stars. The two already play rugby, the Rippa Rugby version played on dozens of sports fields in Hawke's Bay each Saturday morning.

In its bid to win the competition, the centre has bedecked one of its rooms in yellow and black to make the players feel at home, or at least as much at home with the youngsters in the new "Rascals Stand".

It even has a coaches' box, says centre manager Shelley Waretini.

The competition, and the morning smoko with the players, are among promotions before next Friday night's Super 15 game against the Highlanders, expected to attract more than 10,000 fans to Napier's McLean Park as the two sides play their second-to-last matches before the semifinals.

It is one of a string of Super 15 matches out in the provinces over the final rounds.

The Wellington-based Hurricanes, already guaranteed top place going into the playoffs, which start on June 19, tonight play the Christchurch-based Crusaders in Nelson. Tomorrow night, the Dunedin-based Highlanders play the Hamilton-based Chiefs in Invercargill, each side looking to also secure a place in the top six.