RWCmomentum growing in Lakes District

Media release from Queenstown Lakes District Council, Destination Queenstown and Lakes Leisure

Today’s chance to see New Zealand’s most prized rugby silverware in person is a tangible reminder for local rugby fans that September’s Rugby World Cup is just months away.

Five of rugby’s most treasured spoils, including the Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations Trophy, Hillary Shield, IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup and IRB Junior World Championship Trophy, are on public display today at the Wakatipu Rugby Club as part of a nationwide trophy tour.

The tour is the first of several initiatives the New Zealand Rugby Union is leading this year with the aim of leveraging RWC 2011 to develop a strong and continuing legacy for grassroots rugby.

Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Vanessa van Uden said the trophy tour was an important milestone in the build up to the Rugby World Cup in September.

“Having the chance to be in the presence of such a calibre of history-making trophies suddenly makes the Rugby World Cup very real - it’s now only 199 days to go until it all kicks off.”

A coordination team from multiple agencies including QLDC, Destination Queenstown, Lakes Leisure, Lakes Environmental, Lake Wanaka Tourism, the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce and I-Site have been meeting for more than a year to bring together a programme for the Lakes District.

Queenstown will host the Irish, English and Romanian teams for training during the Rugby World Cup and Lakes Leisure is currently finalising a ‘community engagement’ programme which gives the community the opportunity to interact with each team while they’re here.

“We’re working with the teams to optimise any opportunity, particularly for our young rugby players, without compromising their training,” said Lakes Leisure Event and Facility Manager JD Marrable.

Queenstown will be the Irish team’s first New Zealand port of call and an airport greeting and civic ceremony is being planned to welcome them officially.

Another chance for the community to get into the spirit and celebrate New Zealand’s rugby heritage is a feature match between the Classic All Blacks and the French Classics. The match, to be held on 18 September at Queenstown’s Recreation Ground, is expected to attract locals and travelling fans from all nations.

Destination Queenstown CEO Tony Everitt said securing the ‘Classics’ game was a real coup.

“This is an international calibre match featuring some of rugby’s legends and it gives visitors and locals a great opportunity to be part of the whole rugby experience.”

Further Rugby World Cup plans for the Lakes District will be unveiled in the coming months.