Tui Brings Big Time Rugby To Small Town

MEDIA RELEASE
6th NOVEMBER 2009

Tui Brings Big Time Rugby To Small Town
- Hurricanes vs The Blues at Mangatainoka

Small town Mangatainoka is entering ‘big time’ rugby in true number 8 wire style.

History will be made on 23rd January 2010 (Wellington Anniversary weekend), when the Hurricanes take on the Blues at the Mangatainoka Rugby Football Club grounds, right beside Tui Brewery.

The grounds’ grandstand holds just over 122 people but a combined local effort will see the majority of 6533 ticket holders watching the match in true grassroots rugby style, but from a seat. Farmers, contractors and earth movers are about to begin leveling the field, removing ruts dug by sheep hoofs not rugby sprigs and building temporary grandstands that will rival those ‘big union’ projects that are underway for Rugby World Cup 2011.

The 2010 Super 14 pre-season opener is the brainchild of Tui’s commercial manager and Wairarapa resident, Nick Rogers. “We have a fantastic relationship with the Hurricanes, both as a sponsor and partner, and they always want to get involved in the wider franchise community. So we thought – why not do something a little different this year!

“Tui is bringing the big show to the small town,” Rogers states. “The ground is currently but a paddock next to a brewery - which is what makes this game so beautiful – but there is some serious work to be done. It’s literally grassroots rugby. We’re taking it right back to basics. Why are we doing this? I ask myself the same question every day but I know it will be rewarding! After all, this will be history in the making! A town of about 100 residents, with 6533 people arriving to watch a rugby game would have to be some sort of record surely– it’s like the population of Auckland going from 1 million people to 65 million for 6 hours!”
Tui has teamed up with an array of local business to get this event off the ground – such as PGG Wrightsons. Duncan Fletcher Regional Manager for PGG says, “Events such as this, and the Tui Drought Shout, allow us a fantastic opportunity to support our community and create a great event for everyone.”

Mangatainoka is located in the heart of Hurricanes territory ensuring strong support for the team. Rogers says staging game in northern Wairarapa will give the wider rugby community easy access to their team and their players as Manawatu and Hawkes Bay will both be supplying key note players to the Hurricanes for the 2010 season.

“I am sure we can make this game at Toki one that is talked about – locally, regionally and nationally for years,” he says. “Punters will have a great day and also experience rugby at grass roots at its best with a real community feel. Local Community groups such as schools, Rotary Clubs and sports clubs will operative all the food stalls, the bar and clean up as their fundraisers. It saves them travelling to Palmerston North to sell sausages at the Warehouse on a Saturday! Even the army is getting involved by providing security. We will have bands playing and of course the popular Tui Brewery girls as well as a few other surprises on the day.”

Tickets will be limited ‘very limited’ and demand is high as the team involved can physically only build so many stands. Rogers predicts the game will sell out faster than the World Cup Final and urges fans to get in quick. Tickets to the match go on sale on Wednesday11th November from Tui Brewery or the Tui website (www.tui.co.nz) and PGG Wrightson stores in Hurricanes territory.

General admission tickets cost $25 with kids 10 and under free. Corporate tickets are also available for $100 for an event held on the ‘back paddock’. The event includes a guest speaker at 2pm; reserved stand seating; a gourmet BBQ lunch; two Tui beers (or other refreshments); a Tui cap; Tui Brewery Girl Calendar and Tui beer at the after match.

This match kicks off a series of community summer events at Mangatainoka including ‘Small Towns Big Sounds’ (27th February) where Kiwi bands will entertain over 4000 visitors at Tui Brewery.

ENDS