Rugby: Chiefs like Rotorua but crowds are needed

The Chiefs play the Bulls tonight at the Rotorua International Stadium. Pictured is Chiefs player Augustine Pulu, during a pre-season match in Rotorua last year. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Chiefs are returning to Rotorua for their first regular season match in the city since 2008, and the Chiefs have made it clear - use us or lose us.

Chiefs chief executive Andrew Flexman said there was potential to bring Chiefs games to Rotorua on a more regular basis, but the community had to get behind the Chiefs versus Bulls match tonight.

Flexman said they hoped to see about 10,000 fans turn up at the match, which would prove that it was financially viable to host more big games at the Rotorua International Stadium.

"It becomes an absolutely viable option for us [to play more games here] if we get that support; and the players really like it, it is a good stadium and a good rugby ground," he said. "We want to be seen in Rotorua again before too long."

Flexman said one of the goals of the Chiefs was to bring games to the regions.

He said in more recent years they had held matches at Tauranga's Baypark Stadium but the players and coaching staff had voiced concerns about the playing surface and facilities at the stadium.

He said that was one of the factors in bringing a game to Rotorua this year.

"We have made no secret of the fact that the playing group and coaching staff are not that keen on Baypark," he said.

"They have always enjoyed playing in Rotorua ... and we felt it was time to get back there."

Flexman said changes to the Super Rugby season from 2016 onwards, and the addition of Taranaki to the Chiefs region, made bringing games to the regions more difficult.

However, he said it was not out of the question for Rotorua to be part of a regular cycle, with games held in the city every three years for example.

The Chiefs' last game in Rotorua was a pre-season match last year against the Blues.