Eden Rugby Club offering more than a drink to RWC fans

Eden Rugby Club inside the no-drive zone and offering more than just a drink or two to Rugby World Cup fans

• Historic but newly renovated Eden Rugby Club just 600 metres from Eden Park
• Huge fundraising drive selling tickets for pre-match and during-match entertainment to locals, corporates and visitors to New Zealand

The hammers have been laid down, the carpets have been rolled out and the jerseys and memorabilia collected over the last 90 odd years have gone back up on the walls. Eden Rugby Club is getting set to welcome rugby fans from all over.

“After a massive fundraising and subsequent building effort to enhance a tired looking rugby club Eden Rugby is all set to celebrate the Rugby World Cup – especially as arguably the ‘best’ matches, will be played out at Eden Park just a few metres from our door,” says Mark Bateman, Chairman of the Eden Rugby International Supporters’ Club and one of three generations of Batemans who have played for Eden.

“We’ve worked against incredibly tight deadlines to have the doors open at Eden to welcome our neighbours and other visitors looking for the most authentic place to get in behind their favourite teams, and the club is looking spic and span. The refurbishment wouldn’t have been possible without thousands of hours of volunteer support.” Auckland City have also got in on the act and tidied up the surrounding area. “Gribblehirst Park on Sandringham Rd (where Eden Rugby is located) is looking pretty sharp right now,” says Bateman.

The club received support from a number of organisations such as Auckland City, the Lotteries Commission, ASB Community Grants and the Lion Foundation, as the facility is more than a rugby club and is used extensively by the wider community. “Once the Rugby World Cup is over there’s a bit more work to be done, and then Eden Rugby will once more host social clubs, youth development programmes, community groups and of course our great rugby teams,” confirms Bateman.

“Anyone who is looking for an authentic rugby-filled atmosphere to get the most out of the Cup should come to us for guaranteed atmosphere. It’s rumoured that we may also be hosting Sir Fred Allen at Eden – which would really put the icing on the cake.”

To purchase pre-match tickets or to join the team at Eden Rugby to watch games on the box, simply go to www.edenrugbysupporters.com. The organising team are reassured that they are offering the best value, and as close to Eden Park as you can get.

ENDS

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