Happy Hamilton birthday, boyo

Welsh coach, and Kiwi, Warren Gatland and his wife Trudi head out for his 48th birthday. Photo / Mark Hamilton

Waikato-bred Welsh rugby coach Warren Gatland and his family celebrated his 48th birthday in Hamilton last night.

Despite tragic news about a Welsh mining disaster, Gatland and friends have many reasons to celebrate ahead of tonight's match with Samoa.

Hamilton locals had worked for a year to arrange free accommodation for Welsh rugby visitors and many who took up the invitation joined the Gatlands last night to celebrate.

Warren's wife Trudi said the Waikato atmosphere was "fantastic" as the couple raced across town after a frantic day keeping up with fans, Welsh visitors and local well-wishers. Some 140 Welsh guests joined the Gatlands at a Hood St bar last night before the birthday boy had a quiet dinner with family at a restaurant.

Gatland's friend David Kneebone said stories of price-gouging compelled the Waikato friends to provide an older style of rugby hospitality.

Kneebone said rugby was Wales' national game, not the preserve of privileged public schools and old boys' clubs like in England.

"Your average Welsh rugby fan isn't loaded with money. In Wales, it's a working man's game."

The Kneebones are hosting a newly-arrived Welsh family today. "We thought about great hospitality and wouldn't it be cool to give something back."

Gatland and Kneebone's friend Basil Lennan said interest in the billetting scheme had "exploded" and Hamiltonians were now hosting almost 150 guests.