School goes all out for decider

Students from Ngaruawahia Primary School show their support. Photo / Natalie Slade

Countdown begins and the thrill sets in

Ngaruawahia Primary School students proudly showed their colours yesterday when they dressed in red, yellow and black to support the Chiefs for tonight's Super 15 final.

Deputy principal Stevan Sharples said the school was 100 per cent behind the rugby team and held a mufti day yesterday to get into the spirit of the grand final.

"We are so rapt and so supportive of the Chiefs," Mr Sharples said.

After last year's championship win, the 180 pupils and their teachers caught buses into Hamilton for the ticker-tape parade and to meet their heroes.

Mr Sharples, who once taught All Black Israel Dagg at intermediate school in Hastings, said coaches Dave Rennie and Wayne Smith visited the school afterwards to talk to pupils and helped to plant trees as part of a restoration project, a thrill for the children.

"We're passionate about the Chiefs. And I am absolutely confident we can beat the Brumbies. I'm more confident about this game than I was about the Crusaders."

He said the Brumbies would be travel-weary, the Chiefs had the home ground advantage and they were going from strength to strength.

"Our players are electric.

"They really want to do it, not only for themselves and the Waikato but for all of their fans."

He hoped there would be another parade for the "spontaneous school" to celebrate.

"It's a really exciting time for everybody."