Dargaville to host Auckland in preseason

For the first time in more than 30 years, the Northland rugby team will play an Auckland XV at Dargaville's Rugby Park.
Local businesses are hoping the event will boost the local economy.
Northern Wairoa Hotel manager Alicia Ruru said she had already been approached about accommodation for the pre-season match, to be played on July 21.
"I think it's wonderful for Dargaville. It's good to see this level of rugby being played out in the regions. Once we look into it a bit more we may do something to mark the event," she said.
The Dargaville match will be the last game before the start of this season's ITM Cup (formerly Air New Zealand Cup) competition, which kicks off on July 28. 
Northern Wairoa sub-union president Bryce Gatehouse said  planning for the big game was still in the early stages.
"We have always been keen to have these matches come back into the regions - especially to the Northern Wairoa, which is the oldest sub-union in the North - so you can be sure Northern Wairoa hospitality will be at its best," he said.
Mr Gatehouse said there had been talk of providing an additional temporary grandstand at Rugby Park and trucks being used for business "corporate boxes," but all these details had yet to worked through.
The park has only an uncovered wooden grandstand - the larger covered stand was wrecked beyond repair in a storm several years ago.

 It was hoped that the community and local businesses would get caught up in the euphoria leading up to the match.
"Whether you are a rugby fan or not - anything that promotes the district has to be a good thing," Mr Gatehouse said.
He hoped there would be economic benefits from the game, which should see an influx of visitors into the town.
Local clubs will be offered the chance to provide onsite catering and refreshments. Businesses would be encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity to promote the town.
The match follows moves by the Northland Rugby Union to play pre-season games in outlying areas rather than always in Whangarei.
The regional team played two games outside of Whangarei last year, and this year a game will be played in Kaitaia on July 14.
Last year Kerikeri hosted Auckland versus Northland for an Air New Zealand Cup match which attracted 7000 spectators.
Based on the Ministry of Tourism's figures, the economic impact of that game was $721,000 - an average daily spend of $103 by domestic visitors.
The figure does not take into account people stopping overnight or longer because many of the people at the Kerikeri game were locals or from distances that were commutable.
Kerikeri's business association president Judy Hyland said the match caused a buzz in the town.
"Everybody got in behind it, we had blue street  flags, themed shop fronts, a street band, face painting - even the bakers had blue icing on their cakes. It was fabulous and a wonderful way to profile your town - especially with the TV coverage given to the game."
Mrs Hyland said while the influx of people on the day did not have as great an impact  as had been expected, there would be long-term spin offs from the event.
The Taniwha take on Auckland at Rugby Park in Dargaville on  July 21. Kick off is expected to be 3.30pm, but this time is to be confirmed. On July 29, Northland play Taranaki at New Plymouth in the first round of the ITM Cup draw.