Heartland game takes break

A full house watches as Crusaders first-five Dan Carter looks for a gap in the Hurricanes defence during last year's Super-15 pre-season match at Eketahuna. PHOTO/CHRIS KILFORD

SUPER Rugby fans are being encouraged to make the most of this month's Hurricanes and Blues pre-season Super Rugby game at Eketahuna after it was announced today that the event will take a break next year.

Nick Rogers, commercial manager for DB, says the February 13 match will be the last one held until 2018. Rogers and his team from Tui Brewery have previously organised five sold-out pre-season games involving the Hurricanes franchise and said they've decided to have a year off for a variety of reasons.

"We've decided to take a break in 2017 and look ahead to returning the game to the Tararua district in 2018," Rogers said. "We want to alternate the running of the event with the Wings Over Wairarapa airshow, ensure it stays fresh and most importantly that it remains true to its grassroots rugby philosophy of taking the big game to the small town."

Rogers said the previous games -- the first three of which were played at Mangatainoka followed by others at Memorial Park in Masterton and Eketahuna -- have all been a huge success and gone down a treat with rugby fans .

He said he was looking forward to returning to Eketahuna for the February 13 game with excitement already building in the small township. A temporary grandstand that will hold 2500 ticket holders is being constructed and the corporate area which will seat around 1000 is starting to take shape. And thanks to Mother Nature playing her part, the pitch was looking in great shape and as yet hadn't needed to be irrigated.

As like last year's sold out game between the Hurricanes and Crusaders, Eketahuna Rugby Club will have the support of the whole community to ensure the success of the game. The club's junior players will form a guard of honour for both teams and then entertain the crowd at half time with a series of Rippa Rugby games. Several schools and community groups from the Wairarapa and Tararua districts will also be pitching in to man the car parking sites, while others will be busy making food to feed the fans. Coffee and icecreams will also be available.

Dennis "Doc" Dougherty, president of the Eketahuna Rugby Club, said he's not surprised to see people coming together for the second year in a row. He said his club had a proud tradition of "mucking in" and had been at the heart of the community for over a century.

"I think everyone who lives in Eketahuna has been involved in making this promotion a success and that's just wonderful for the town," he said.

Hurricanes new chief executive officer Avan Lee says the pre-season game will be hugely important for the players to form combinations and get up to speed before the season proper begins. In terms of individuals, he says the players will want to show the coaches they deserve a starting spot for Super Rugby.

Tickets for the Super Rugby pre-season game are available through PGG Wrightson Stores and at Tui HQ, SH2, Mangatainoka. Prices are $40 for general admission and $130 a person for corporate tickets. Tickets also available online at www.tui.co.nz. Kick-off for the big game is at 3pm.

Meanwhile, nine players will pull on the Hurricanes jersey for the first time during the team's first Investec Super Rugby pre-season match against the Western Force in Gosford tomorrow.

With the Hurricanes six World Cup All Blacks unavailable coach Chris Boyd will have a valuable chance to trial some exciting new combinations.

Boyd will take 26 players across the Tasman where Pita Ahki, Loni Uhila, Michael Fatialofa, Tony Lamborn, Hisa Sasagi, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, James Blackwell, Malo Tuitama and Peter Umaga-Jensen will all represent the club for the first time.

After the departure of Hurricanes favourites Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith there's been plenty of interest around the potential midfield pairing this year and Willis Halaholo and Ahki will get the first chance to fill the No12 and 13 jerseys. Matt Proctor and Jason Woodward will also spend time at centre during a match that will be played in four quarters.

Halfback Tahuriorangi will form a new halves combination with first five Otere Black, while exciting young Scots College products Malo Tuitama and Peter Umaga-Jensen will both see game time in the backline.

Brad Shields will lead the side.