Get ready Rotorua - the All Blacks are coming to town next week.
In keeping with a tradition started in 2011, and with the support of the team's airline partner Air New Zealand, the All Blacks will this year spend next Thursday having fun with various schools and communities in
Paihia, Rotorua, the Kapiti Coast, Greymouth and Ashburton, before they assemble in Auckland to prepare for the opening Investec Rugby Championship Bledisloe Cup Test against Australia.
Local provincial unions, town authorities and All Blacks support staff and Air New Zealand have been working for months to plan the All Blacks visits around the country.
A range of activities are being organised in the towns, including school visits, civic events, autograph sessions, fun activities with kids, Rippa rugby games and hospital visits. Just which players will be visiting which towns will be announced next week.
In Rotorua, Rotorua Boys' High School will host the All Blacks for a special visit, after which the players will head to a civic event to take part in a mass jump jam activity and autograph signing session in Eat Streat from 11.15am to 12.30pm.
"As New Zealand's national airline, we are very proud of our longstanding sponsorship of the All Blacks and regularly fly the team around the world," said Air New Zealand Manager Sponsorship and Communities Meghan Blair.
"It's a privilege to be flying the boys around regional New Zealand next week to get out and about in some of the communities we operate to."
All Blacks Manager Darren Shand said heading to towns that did not usually host All Blacks was one small way the team could acknowledge the support from loyal fans in the provinces.
"We really appreciate the support of our fans and we know it's sometimes harder for fans in the smaller towns to get to see the All Blacks. So we are taking the players to them. The players really look forward to the day and always come back into camp buzzing after their day out."
Shand said many players in the current All Blacks squad could relate to fans from small-town New Zealand.
"People forget that quite a few players in the team come from small towns, including Richie who is from the North Otago community of Kurow, so they certainly relate to fans in the provincial heartland."
"We are really excited about the All Blacks coming to the Bay next week," said Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers.
"It's an exciting opportunity for the Rotorua community. Hopefully everyone can come out and give them a great Bay of Plenty welcome."
The All Blacks to visit Rotorua will be announced early next week.
