Neighbouring rivalry fierce but Australia still next best option for proud Kiwis

Auckland, 06 October 2011 – They may be bitter rivals on the rugby field but Kiwis have demonstrated their fondness for Australia with 17% supporting the Wallabies as their second team and picking it as one of the rugby nations they’d most like to visit, according to the latest survey by online travel company Expedia.co.nz.

The nationwide survey* reveals that, apart from our beloved All Blacks, Kiwis would rather support their trans-Tasman rival than any other country in the Rugby World Cup.

Australia was followed closely by England (14%), Ireland (13%) and South Africa (12%), however, 25% of New Zealanders actually refused to choose another team.

In demonstration the affection for the Wallabies is not just about the rugby, one in ten Kiwis also selected Australia as one of the countries featuring in the Rugby World Cup that they would most like to visit. This was not the case with other popular travel destinations such as Italy (12%) and France (11%), with far fewer Kiwis saying they would support their rugby teams (5% and 6% respectively).

Speaking on the survey results, Amee Evans, Marketing and Communications Manager for Expedia.co.nz, said: “Though we are fiercely competitive when pitted against each other, these results show that, in fact, New Zealanders have respect for the Wallabies.

“Though they might not admit it, I think that regard goes both ways with Australians equally proud of the All Blacks’ talent and the relationship with their closest rugby neighbours,” Evans said.

And, in demonstration that rugby is truly our national sport, Kiwis have declared they wouldn’t have allowed work commitments or distance get in the way of their Rugby World Cup Final celebrations. The survey revealed that more than a fifth (22%) of die-hard Kiwi fans across the country would have contemplated or had already made the decision to throw a ‘sickie’ the day after the final, had it not been for the well-timed public holiday falling on Monday 24 October.

ENDS

© Scoop Media