All Blacks Will Visit Kaeo Next Month

Groups of players are visiting 11 towns from Kaeo to Winton on September 2 before assembling for the Rugby World Cup tournament.

The Far North District Council will host the visit at the Kaeo Rugby Club in conjunction with the club.

The names of the players who will visit each town won’t be publicised until after the All Blacks squad is named on August 23.

All Blacks Manager Darren Shand says the team recognises that they have huge support in small towns all over New Zealand and wanted to repay that support.

Far North Mayor Wayne Brown says hosting an NPC game between Northland and Auckland in 2009 and a pre-season game between the Blues and The Hurricanes in February had put the Far North on the rugby map.

“The New Zealand Rugby Union didn’t notice us until we had the games in Kerikeri. I’m expecting to see more good games up here,” Mr Brown says.